Drink Champs - Episode 197 w/ Steve Rifkind

Episode Date: February 7, 2020

N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN are the Drink Champs. On today’s episode The Champs chop it up with legendary Record Executive Steve Rifkind. Best known for being the founder and chairman of Loud Records and of SRC Records. Rifkind signed artists such as Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Big Pun, Three 6 Mafia and more!Steve is the inventor of the “Street Team” and in the 90’s / early 2000’s his methods and strategies helped revolutionize the way artists campaigns were marketed and promoted. Steve shares great stories about working with the legendary Quincy Jones and Jimmy Iovine.As Johnathan Rifkind and Randy Acker join the conversation, Steve Rifkind shares historic stories about legends such as Big Pun, ODB and Prodigy of Mobb Deep. Steve announces that DMX is working on a new album and the 25th Anniversary concert celebrating Loud Records; which was held at the Radio City Music Hall featuring legendary Loud Records artists.Lots of great stories and valuable gems that you don’t want to miss.Follow:Drink Champshttp://www.drinkchamps.comhttp://www.instagram.com/drinkchampshttp://www.twitter.com/drinkchampshttp://www.facebook.com/drinkchampsDJ EFNhttp://www.crazyhood.comhttp://www.instagram.com/whoscrazyhttp://www.twitter.com/djefnhttp://www.facebook.com/crazyhoodproductionsN.O.R.E.http://www.instagram.com/therealnoreagahttp://www.twitter.com/noreagaCivic Tax Relief: To learn more, call 800-601-7780.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/drinkchamps/support Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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You know what I mean? In the most professional, unprofessional podcast. And your number one source for drunk facts. It's Drink Champs, motherfucking podcast. Where every day is New Year's Eve. It's time for Drink Champs. Drink up, motherfucker. What it good be?

Hopefully this is what it should be. This is your boy, N-A-O-N-A-N. What up? It's DJ E-F-N. And this is motherfucking military, crazy war podcast, motherfucking Drink Champs, happy hour, and all types of crazy shit. Make some noise! And right now, when you talk about the definition of CEO, when you talk about a person who stood by hip-hop

and put on the likes of people, your favorite acts like Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Dead Prez, Mobb Deep, these are people that you probably wouldn't even, you probably wouldn't even know if this guy, you know, gave Fat Joe a great opportunity. This guy is out here, and he's still out here. He's dated some of the most beautiful women in the world so we're gonna get into that we also heard he had

the keys to a vegas strip club by himself in a beautiful way look he's blushing in a beautiful way this guy's been doing you know been out in this music industry has kept the street team invented the street team he invented it if you look at the Wu Tang Clan documentary which I think is one of the goals great grazes beautiful is documentary you can see him in there he actually has hair phenomenal here too he looked like the Fonz if you don't know how to talk about my good friend see I'm a fuckin' risk-a-digger! Now, now that is a debate. That is a hip-hop debate, right? Uh, who invented the street tea?

Okay. I mean, I know. But if you remember... Okay. When we did Drink Champs in LA, in my office in LA... Mm-hmm. What Puff said. Mm-hmm. Okay, I forgot, I forgot. Damn, there was so much going on there. What did he say?

He did admit that. Yeah. He did admit that. What, Puff was trying to say that he... No, no. He never... I mean, me and Puff were always close. But how did you develop even that, right, Steve?

Because at the time, hip-hop was just... It was like billboard-driven and things of that nature. How did you say, you know what, I'm going to get a crew? And, you know, because it's basically like. Did something inspire that? It was more than that. Okay.

So I was really dyslexic as a kid. We're all dyslexic at this table, actually. So, you know, where all Jews go, when they get older, they move down to Miami. So my grandparents moved to Miami. Okay. And my grandfather called. Your grandfather my grandparents moved to Miami. Okay. And my grandfather called. Your grandfather? My grandfather called me.

Okay. And he said, you got to get your shit together. Wow. You're going to end up dead or you're going to end up in jail. Wow. He goes, why don't you go work with your dad? So my dad had a label called Spring Records. So that was Fatback Band who put out the first hip-hop record.

Wow. Millie Jackson, Joe Simon, and James Brown. Wow. And James Brown? Through Polygram, yes. Wow. So he sent me on the road when I was 18 years old. I didn't go to college.

So I'm visiting radio stations and visiting people my age now. And I was like, what the fuck do I want to hang out with a 50-year-old for? So I ended up going back to the colleges. So I knew what an intern was, you know, where I would be like, I'm just going to send you some records. You know, nobody was making really T-shirts at the time. There were no really poster boards.

There wasn't any of that. And I just started, so I started zigzagging any of that. And I just started zigzagging across the country. And I just put a network of people together. So and that's how it really all started. So that's the precursor of like street teams and regional street teams.

This is 1981. Wow. This is 1982. So, you know, then my dad gave Russell his first deal. Russell 7th. Yeah. At Polygram? At Spring with a record called Dalla Billio by Jimmy Spicer.

So they just kept me on the road. And I just started networking and just meeting all these colleagues. When you say they kept you on the road, are you talking about artists or are you talking about the label? Well, the label was really my dad's label, but I really wasn't working for him. He was just trying to see if I had any heart and any balls to do this. Right. And don't forget, there was no GPS. You would have to take out a map and just figure out how you're going to get from Atlanta to Alabama.

The maps, the paper maps. No cell phones, so you'd have to take out a map and just figure out how you're going to get from Atlanta to Alabama. And just like. The paper match. No cell phones. So you'd have to walk around. You know, every night I left, it would be like $10 worth of quarters. And just. So, okay. So when was it to the point where you said this is the street team?

Like this. That was 1988. Because was other labels hiring you to do that? Or this was something you was doing on your own? So you had a marketing company. Before there was Loud, there was a Stephen Rifkin company. Right, so that was the marketing company. So SRC was before Loud. I thought SRC was after Loud.

It resurfaced. That was the second record company. So the Stephen Rifkin company was an second record company. So, the Stephen Rifkin company was an independent promotion company. Right? So, I ran out, I moved,

met a chick, moved out to LA, hooked up with a company called Delicious Vinyl. They had Tone Loke and Young M.C. So, Brand new heavies were on there.

Did the whole campaign for all those records And it was just Now I'm putting The street team together They moved They moved And I really always

Wanted to have My own company So I was like You know I'm going to keep Your guys office So I think I had Three thousand dollars

To my name And I made brochures Wow And I was going To New York For my cousin's wedding And I sent All the brochures out to all the different labels, and I came back with $140,000 worth of business.

From brochures? Yeah, but I sent it to every record company, and I just said, this is what we're going to handle. We're going to handle BET, we're going to handle MTV, we're going to handle college radio, we're going to handle mix show radio. And it was never about mainstream radio. Wow. Right.

Wow. And knock on wood. Is that where the mix show power summons came from? That came from Rene. But that came like in the mid-90s. And that was after How Can I Be Down, too. I think How Can I Be Down started aspiring and all that stuff. All right. Well, Jack the Rapper was the first one.

No, no, the original. That's the original. 100%. Yeah, the original, yeah. So it's Jack the Rapper, then it's what? Then it's How Can I Be Down. Wow. Then it's...

Mixed Show Power Summit. But there was a convention that I went to. The college radio... The Gavin Report. Yeah, yeah. But my dad took me to a convention when I was 18 years old. I mean, it was just,

it was in Miami at the Diplomat Hotel and it was called the NAR Convention. And it was mostly a sales convention. It just happened right now? Yeah,

but the pussy there was like, holy shit. You said the pussy? The pussy was ridiculous. We weren't ready. Yeah, I wasn't ready.

I mean, it was just ridiculous. I was like, wow, I think I really want to be in this record business. Right. And this is,

so, boom, now you develop the street team now. Loud. I know I'm bouncing around all day, but let's just go because this was, this was like quintessential. Like if you were, you know, from an artist that just wanted to stay an artist, that was known that loud let you do what the fuck yeah did you want to do but I gotta be honest with you it started with Wu Tang clan I could remember me seeing protect your neck for the first time and I'm like no one cares about these people like that was like just different like so like what was it what was it like meeting I know know we spoke on a lightning board. Who were the first artists signing to Love?

Because I remember seeing a... Twista. Twista. Twista was the first artist. And then Mop Deep shortly after? No, so it was Twista, it was a group out of LA called Mad Cat that caught a nice little buzz. Then The Licks. The Licks? The Licks, okay.

And this is your time in LA that's inspiring these, signing these artists? Yeah, I mean, last started in L.A. So that's why, because you're coming out of New York at some point, and you're signing these underground L.A. artists. Exactly. The Licks, Xzibit, all these guys. So Xzibit was after.

It was the Licks, and then I was in New York for my 31st birthday. And RZA just showed up after me trying to reach him for three weeks. And he was Rakeem? He was Prince Rakeem at the time. Prince Rakeem at the time, yeah. So he comes up. I'm in an office no bigger than this table. And I was with E. Swift from the Alcoholics. And he goes, do you mind if I bring the guys up?

E. Swift from Alcoholics is saying this? No, RZA is saying that. So the whole clan comes up. Office was the size of comes up. Office was the size of this table. Right. They put the record on.

They stopped performing. Is it a protect your neck? It was protect your neck. Okay. Some guy comes

running through the office. And to this day, I don't know if I was set up by RZA or if the guy really worked with me.

I see the documentary. And he says, that's that shit. And he walks out, I've never seen him again. Good, good. It was a plan.

It was a plan. Because this is what I want to, that's what I want to know from you, right? At the time, you're a hip-hop fan. And everything in hip-hop, right,

if you was to bring even Capone and Noriega, people would compare us to Mark D. If you was to compare, you know, it's, you know, they're always,

your granddad, you rock him. Nah, it's rock you know, they're all granddaddy, you, Rakim, Nas, Rakim. At the time, when it's nine motherfuckers, there's not one fucking thing that you can compare them to. So did that frustrate you? No, it didn't frustrate me because it wasn't intimidating either. Like so many people? No, just don't forget, I never considered myself an A&R guy. Right.

Right? I always considered myself a promotion guy. I mean, that's what I came first. Right. So, before there was research,

there was research, right, I had the street team. So, my guy in Detroit is calling my A&R guy on the West Coast,

this record is blowing the fuck up. Oh, so they white labeled it prior to? No, they were doing their own promo. One of the original records, yeah. I never knew that. So that original video was doing it on the air? Oh, yeah.

Oh, fuck! They were doing college runs. I'm thinking when I first saw that, I was like, nah, there's no record label that loves him, man. Like, you know, when I first saw him, this was my first time seeing it. Because, you know, you had all these Hype William videos at the time. Nah, you see Hype, Hype later. We need Hype's first video.

Wait a minute. Did we just go there? No, no, no, I'm opening them both right now. Yeah, how many bottles are you opening, man? Yeah, just one. I'll take this back to the, I bought it. I'm sure they'll both right now. Calm down. Yo, how many bottles are you opening, man? Just one. Just one bottle. I'll take this back to the... I bought it. I'm sure they'll let you get it again.

Yeah, come on. Let me go steal it, goddamn. We'll do... Okay, hold on. You gave hype this first? I'm almost positive. Yeah. Okay.

And this is Wu-Tang Clan? This is the shit when y'all walking up the wall? No, this is Canopy also Simple with Ray and Ghost. Damn. I didn't even realize that was hot.

Can it all be so simple? I can't sing. I was on it. Canada, it's so simple. I can't sing. Don't let me finish that. So, okay. So, we're bouncing all around. Meet,

the business says there's nine of us. Because was it ten at first? No, it was eight. It was everybody but

Kappa was away. Kappa was away. Okay. So, you meet these guys. How was the first time meeting Old Dirty Bastard? I mean...

Every time I see Old Dirty Bastard, he was digging up his nose. I swear to God. Like, he's like, God bless him. Like, every time, I've never really,

I think I've gained Old Dirty Bastard a five. Like, I've met Dirty Bastard like 45 times in my life, and I probably gave him a real five like twice

because I've always been like yo come on he's just always he was just always a foul character around me with me he had a heart of gold like I mean

I was like big bro to him I mean it was weird I mean never had one ounce you know like the day that they ran when he ran on the stage

in the Grammys when he said Wu-Tang is for the children I looked across the street And I already knew That we lost Like you know We got the call

And he's like Well how come you're not going I said We already lost man He goes I just bought this $2,000 suit This that so on so on So after he jumps on stage

What did he lose to Lauryn Hill I don't know Come on How's Google at Yeah continue When he goes on stage. Who did he lose to, Lauryn Hill? I don't know. Come on, Google that. Yeah, continue. When he goes on stage,

he takes, you know, the trophy. He comes to my house, knocks on the door, he's like, how'd I do? That was like hip-hop's first viral moment.

Because that was viral. But he would do that all the time. I saw him in How Can I Be Down? Where it was, I think, Capleton was was performing Were you there

When he jumped on stage And he did some crazy stuff And it was He like interrupted the whole show No I'll tell you a story We were doing a Performance at Gavin Gavin

New Orleans So We were flying there With my my wife at the time, I was pregnant with that first child. And I feel like you're private, I feel like you're private. I feel like you was like the first dude on a new flying private plane. We'll get back to that later.

We'll get back to that. Let's make some noise for that guy. Yo, I thought you said pirate plane. I'm like, he was flying a pirate plane. I don't know, Steve taking private planes, like it was like changing draws. I don't know. He was flying pirate planes. I don't know if Steve's taking private planes. It was like changing drawers. I'm not going to lie with him. Watch the day out there.

I'm loud boys. No, but this was commercial. So I hear Dirty coming, which was the first time I flew first class. It was the first first class ticket that I paid for. So we're sitting in first class, and I hear Dirty, and he goes to his seat, and I don't know what happened, but he starts going off. Okay.

And then the flight attendant comes to me, and he said, Mr. Jones, his last name was Jones, is requesting to see you. Okay. And he's not in requesting to see you. Okay. And he's not in first class? No. Okay.

He's on a lecture's budget at the time. Okay, okay. So I go, I talk to him, and he just, you know, had a feeling about the plane. Right. So I was like, shit, if you're having this feeling,

I'm not going to take a chance, let's get the fuck off. He goes, you really going to get off with me? I'm like shit if you're having this feeling I'm not going to take a chance let's get the fuck off he goes you really going to get off with me I'm like yeah he goes nah then we're good like

as long as I know that we're together we go down together I'm like I'm like you sure and he's like yeah I'm positive

right I'm panicking the whole fucking flight one little fucking bump I'm just like right so and he's out like asleep and like for four hours you know the whole fucking flight. One little fucking bump, I'm just like, right? So, and he's out like a light sleeping

and like, for four hours, you know, my hands are like, mm. So, so I guess what I'm trying to ask you,

right, is, this is like probably the biggest gamble, right? Because having a nine people, like having a four man group is,

is fucking, two man. Just a one man group is fucking two man just a one man group I mean just a one man group right so how cause

I imagine in the beginning they all had one manager I imagine in the beginning they all just listened to RZA I imagine you can refute this

this is just me being a fan cause I really was too young I'm like a couple of years later but I imagine from when I see it when I see it,

when I look at the documentary, what was my brother's name? Devine. Devine, I can imagine, when it was all peaches and cream. But when is the moment where you say to myself, when you say to yourself, holy shit, I got rock,

we're going to be considered the new rock stars, and they're fucking signed to me. Like, when does that moment hit you? It never really... No, come on, Steve. Nah, I mean, I was just, you know... I found out we went gold the day you got sung, got shot. Damn, I saw that.

And this is the first album? This is the first album. 36 changes. Yeah, and all, you know, my brother's with me who was my partner in lab. God bless him. God bless him.

Make some noise for his brother. God bless him. So it was like I never really thought of it. To me, it was just always, I always felt we were the underdog. So to me, it was just always taking it to the next level. So if we went to gold, how are we going to get the platinum everything like that so and let me ask you when you say it's great what you just said felt like he was the underdog i have to ask well underdog compared to like puff daddy what they had going on dev jam or was it the industry universal well we were at bmg at the

time but what i'm saying, me, really, just because I didn't know how to read or write until I was 12, 13 years old. You know, my dyslexia, me getting in trouble.

It was like, my family always looked at me like, oh, he's, you know, the crazy one, this, that,

you know. My brother went to school. I didn't go to school. He had a real job. You know, he worked at Electro Records. He was the youngest national promotion guy.

Wow. Wow. That's what I'm talking about. God damn it. He was the youngest national promotion guy. Wow. Wow. That's what I'm talking about. Goddamn it. What's your name again? Jonathan. Jonathan. Jonathan.

Jonathan Ripken. Goddamn it. We're going to bring him in later. We're going to bring him in later. We're going to have a whole lot of shit. But, um, do you want me to continue? So, I just always felt I was the underdog. And it was like, I never, I never I thought I was never

in competition with Puff I never wanted you know Puff was Puff was Puff did you have a criteria when you were looking at these artists like you wanted

something that you liked or something that you thought was going to resonate that's a great question that's an amazing question so with Wu-Tang I have a corny saying the streets don't lie

right so my feedback from the street team question. So with Wu-Tang, I have a corny saying, the streets don't lie. Right. Right? So my feedback from the street team was just giving me that information, but I just knew we had something. Right. When Mobb Deep came up to the office, I mean, Prodigy wasn't there, but it was

Havoc and just Twin, Twin, you know, that whole crew, and they created ruckus from the second we had the first meeting. And I was like, you know what? This is the perfect follow up to what- I'm going to tell you-

Right, like the energy- I'm going to tell you as a person that was living in the streets, like after Wu-Tang, like I'm going to tell you, to be honest, this is one of the- no one really thought Wu-Tang was going to like, not only get signed, but win. Because there's a difference. To us in the hood, getting signed, we thought we won. That shit meant nothing. Getting signed was one part of it.

You have to actually go out there and make some amazing records and things like that. But with Wu-Tang and the fact that you would always see these artists, they'll come out and they'll get a little success and then they'll get polished and then they'll something for Wu-Tang it was like it didn't matter

like if one of them wore Hollywood like if Method Man wore another pants or something it would be like you knew Ghostface would say something about it

like why the fuck are you doing that like they all kept each other balanced and this was the first time that I seen hip hop like develop from star

from just being stardom, into mega stardom, where these guys were in Japan and Ichi Bomb and Konichiwa and shit like that. And like, you know what I'm saying? Like this, I'm wondering, like you didn't sit back and just was like, wow. No, I didn't have time. Wow, wow.

I didn't have, there was still the marketing company, so at that time, I was still promoting pretty much every hip-hop record in the business Oh, don't work is that dirty now you're still working for other labels. Yeah So SRC still a functioning come here as a street team or marketing street team and consulting the labels Yeah, so Leo calls it them had to be mad at you. Come on Stay Leo doesn't want to help me. Get out of here. No, I was just playing around. I was on a nose.

Get out of here. Because I think you might have scared him up. I think you... What do you think? I mean, we just... I mean, like I said, I go back with Russell since I'm 16 years old. Right. Right?

But Leo, on the other hand, I mean... Oh, man. I'm sorry. I didn't expect to hear this. Yeah? So, when was the moment you and Leo, you think other hand, I mean... Oh, man, I'm sorry. I didn't expect to hear this. Yeah? So when was the moment you and Leo, you think, fell out? We never really fell out, you know, but when I realized, like, this is really a business

and it's not love, when he tried to steal Flex. Oh, okay, that's right. Flex was down 60 minutes of funk, right? Oh, and Leo came in, tried to sneak and snoop him. Okay, all right. okay that's why Funk Fletch was down 60 Minutes of Funk right oh and Lior came in tried to sneak and snoop him

okay alright it makes sense it makes sense yeah they don't play that shit you guys you guys did not play that when it comes to that so

what is that from CEO to CEO okay hear this out though you set up Lior to have one of the

biggest acts ever because when you signed Lau, I think that still to this day is one of the most genius hip-hop deals ever because... You mean Wu-Tang when you signed Wu. I'm sorry. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

When you signed Wu-Tang, still... But you allowed them to go out. And Method Man was the first one that was signed to Def Jam, correct? Actually, method man was the first one that was signed to Def Jam actually dirty was the first one time you're just onto election first yeah my fucking history is fucking getting flipped up how close was it to the deal y'all did I wasn't it like right during the same time now it was maybe a month before yeah I thought bring the pain we're back in Beth came out of all the slacks that broke out came first over a month before. Because I thought Bring the Pain, I thought Bring the Pain. When Meth came, Meth came,

out of all the solo acts, that broke out. Came first, I forget, he had the METHOD record. Right. Which was a Wu-Tang record, right?

METHOD. So that jump started his solo career, right? Then we came with Cream. Right, Cash Move. Right,

so that was Ray, I mean Ray, Dec, and Meth on the hook. Right. So, and that record just... So Def Jam signed him from there, or... Def Jam signed him from the MBTO Jody record.

So let me ask you, I know I'm bouncing all over the place. Did they have to come to you for clearance? No, so our deal was, don't forget, it started off as a singles deal. The whole clan as a singles deal? The whole clan started off as a singles deal. Wow, this is amazing. How many singles? Just one single? This is amazing. Just one single whole clan started off as a singles deal. How many singles? Just one single?

It's amazing. Just one single and if it hit a certain plateau it automatically turns into an album. Okay. So within the first week

we did 30,000 in the first week. Wow. Right? Hard copies. Not the shit that they're doing now. Yeah.

Yeah. So it automatically goes into the album right leon russell offered mass i think was a buck 75 which was wow in those days wow like five million dollars right and he offered me after he said yeah there was no i mean as much as i wanted to match it there was no way i could match it at the time Wow at the time Wow so and he wanted to be at Def Jam anyway so I was like you know what this is 91 92 we talk about this 93 94 yeah okay my bad so in the late 80s I was managing New Edition for a minute Oh shit What? That left me Why don't you

Bobby, Ricky and Mike Come on Go ahead So And Ralph was Wanting to leave the group And everything Ralph Tresor

Yeah And that's why Johnny came in So I was like The group will always be bigger than The solo Besides Michael Right? So I was like

Alright You know And to me it was about survival Right Right I didn't consider myself I didn't have an A&R staff yet I had one guy in LA Michael, right? So I was like, all right. And to me, it was about survival. Right. Right? I didn't consider myself, I didn't have an A&R staff yet. I had one guy in LA. I didn't have Matty or Free yet or anything like that.

So it was like. So you didn't have to sign off to Matt. It was basically, but he came to you out of respect. No, they had to. In the deal, we had first right. Okay, first right refusal. Yeah. That's what I was getting at.

So that's. You ever regretted that? You ever regretted, like... I mean, there's a lot of things RCA wouldn't have paid for, you know. Wow. I mean, when Jay and Day came. Right. We'll get into that.

We'll get into that. We'll get into that. Let's stay on Wu-Tang right now. So, I mean, I had a report to RCA. So, we came out of the blue. RCA is your RCA. So we came out of the blue. RCA is your distribution? Yeah. We came out of the blue.

We were based in L.A. I was creating havoc, you know. I was bonafide fucking nuts, right? I had a temper, everything else like that. So I wasn't allowing RCA to shit on us, you know. And then we got lucky. There was a guy who actually turned into a brother of ours, a guy by the name of Mojo Nicosia,

who was a promotion guy at RCA. And we just brought him into our family. And, you know, this guy, he stayed at RCA and just busted his ass. And he went on a van and he zigzagged across the country with the group. Wow.

On RCA Stein. So he opened a budget. And then he got hit by a truck, helping promote our stuff. And it was like, when he got... God bless him. Yeah, when he was halfway healed, I said, fuck RCA, you're coming with us.

Wow. You know, and then him and my brother, and then there's Rich Isaacson, they literally ran the company. Pick up Rich Isaacson. He's at Def Jam now, He's at Def Jam now.

So, they literally, you know, ran the company, John Tamogio ran the whole streets, and radio, Rich ran the company, and it was really the,

you know, the four of us, that just, you know, the four of us that just, you know, and then we brought in Matty and then we brought in Free as our A&R guys and, you know.

Because Loud had a motherfucking run, man. Holy moly guacamole. I mean, it defined like the classic era that people talk about in like the early to mid 90s

of hip hop that like Loud to me defined it. Yeah. Yeah. Now, okay, boom,

the Klan drops 36 chambers, right? You know you got the new mega stars, right? Boom. But now Method Man, and Method Man is at Def Jam. ODB is at Elektra. And GZA is at Geffen. Geffen, that's right. Boom. But then you come out

With another classic Wait but before that Okay I'm trying to sign Mike Geronimo Wow Oh wow Before Mobb Deep

This is okay This is right around Oh yeah At the same time So I meet Irv Okay And We couldn't get

This fucking sample cleared For I forget the name Of the single, but, you know, but the point is real. Is it? Whatever his first single was, right? So we couldn't get the sample cleared, and R.C. said, just don't waste your time on this. Just focus on Woo and just, and Shook One is starting to bubble.

Oh, yeah, that was a great They were right I don't know but if We did the deal with Herb You would have got Jay maybe A lot of shit DMX Yeah It would have been a game changer

It would have been a whole different Story And then he went to TVT with Steve Gottlieb, like Geronimo. Wow. So who do you think is crazier? ODB or DMX? I manage DMX now.

I know. That's why I got the good one. I mean, I don't look at it as crazy. I mean, I look at it as just passionate, just genius. They're both. I mean, I wish, and I told him, like, I would have loved to have heard a conversation between the two of them. The two of them.

I would have loved that, too. But you got ten minutes to get one artist across the street. Ten minutes, right? And I'm just, this is just for the record. And you're going to make $10 million. So you got ODB on the left. And you got DMX on the right. They're both engaged and having fun.

There's chicks around and shit like that. But there's one person you got to get across the street. Just between the two of them? Between the two of them. Who? I would have probably had to go with Dirty. I mean, he was already

in the group. So you're saying Dirty is easier to work with than GMAX? No, I'm not saying that. Don't put words in his mouth. No, I'm not saying that. Well, I'm saying

because he was already in the group. So he's kind of like a team player already? I mean, it was just like I already had that relationship with him. Right, right. So it's easy. Okay a team play already. I mean, it was just like, I already had that relationship with him. Right, right. So it's easy. Okay. It's easy. It's okay. Right, right. Okay. No, cause you, let me just tell you something, Steve, you've worked

with Pun, Pun, Pun. You've worked with Fadger. You've worked with some of the wildest boys. Like, you know what I mean? Dead Press, Exhibit. Oh my God. Alcoholics. Alcoholics. Oh yeah, they're still crazy to this day. Like M.O.P. M.O.P. Yeah. Like there's people that people won't even be around and you just did great business. Three Six Mafia. Three Six Mafia. We just had DJ Paul over here.

Yeah, so like you do business with Hip Hop's elite but also Hip Hop's elite crazies. I was fucking crazy. Goddamn. Make some noise, Steven.

Goddamn. Goddamn. A lot of times the big economic forces we hear about on the news show up in our lives in small ways. Three or four days a week, I would buy two cups of banana pudding, but the price has gone up. So now I only buy one. The demand curve in action. And that's just one of the things we'll be covering on Everybody's Business from Bloomberg Businessweek. I'm Max Chavkin. And I'm Stacey Vanek-Smith. Every Friday, we will be diving into the biggest stories in

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It's for the families of those who didn't make it. I'm J.R. Martinez. I'm a U.S. Army veteran myself. And I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Honor, Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and iHeart Podcast. From Robert Blake, the first Black sailor to be awarded the medal, to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor,

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Me and Lior are cool. Yeah, I know. I mean, there's, but, you know, Lior is about Lior and his team. Right. And, you know, which I respect. Right. It's like, fuck everybody else. Right. I respect that. Yeah. Not, you know, which I respect. Right. It's like, fuck everybody else. Right.

I respect that. Yeah. Not as concerts you're doing. Mm-hmm. This is the second one or this is the first one? This is the first one. This is the first one? Yeah.

Because wasn't y'all doing one? So we were going to do it at the Prudential Center in Newark. In Newark. Okay. And my heart really was like, my dream was always Radio City. That's rare. So when Radio City became available. Wow.

Congratulations. I pulled it from the Prudential Center. You're coming, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm definitely going to try to make it happen. We need you there, Darby. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Listen, man.

I think, for one, I think that this is so important. I think that you're setting another trend. The same way you did with the street teams, the same way you did with Loud, the same way you did with innovative, out-the-box thinking, with signing people like Wu-Tang. I think this is it as well. I commend it. Because the thing is, your legacy is so rich. the box thinking with signing people like Wu-Tang. I think this is it as well. I commend it because the thing is, your legacy is so rich. Like Loud, I feel sorry for sometimes for this generation

when I look at this generation and they don't have a powerhouse like a Loud and they don't have that rich history where, you know, back then being from the hood and going to a record label, it was like going to paradise. Like, even though, like, you're still in fucking Chinatown or some shit, you know what I'm saying?

You're not, like, in a luxury part of the city, but just being out of the city and just, I mean, being out of the hood and just,

you know, being an opportunity and being able to sit down and smoke weed and get a haircut at a record label, like, and I'm,

I feel sorry that they don't really have that no more. you know what I mean? Like, that home feeling, like, you know, when I remember feeling When I remember seeing Havoc They would just be happy to go to Loud

I'm going to Loud, I'm like, oh shit What the fuck, is that a club? That's how happy they were Their album came out I shut the office down, we all went to the park to play ball God damn it This is a CEO of a CEO God damn it

You consider yourself that? Like an artist-friendly CEO? God damn it. This is a CEO of a CEO. God damn it. You consider yourself that? Like an artist-friendly CEO? Because there's CEOs that don't fuck with artists at all. And then there's CEOs that I know I'm getting locked up. Call him, bro. I mean, I never consider myself a CEO. I always consider myself the artist first. And I think that's why the labels were probably always, always scared of me

because I never looked at a budget. It was like, if the artist really needs that and it makes sense, we'll go and, you know, if it's me sending Rich or Jonathan or Mojo,

like, we're doing whatever the fuck we have to do to really, to get this done. Right, that's real. And so,

getting back to this concept, you got Mob D. I got everybody. Ooh. And so getting back to this concept, you got Mobb D. I got everybody. Woo! You want to tell us those surprises you got? Come on. Come on, let's tell us now.

I mean, are you committing? Well, listen, don't do this. Is he committing? This is for the fans. This is for your fans. This is for your fans. No, because I really want the people to come out.

I forget, who's on the list that you got? I got everybody. So I got Wu. Wow. And when you say Wu-Tang Clan, you ain't talking about? All of them. Got Wu.

Yeah, you're one of the people in the world. Again, all of them on the phone. Wasn't you managing Wu-Tang too before we go? Not really, man. I mean, me and Rizzo are like brothers. So it's like, divine is to manage. Okay, okay. Wu.

Okay, Wu. Mob. Mob. And hopefully there'll be special guests doing prodigies business I might come on a prodigy but we give it up give it up too much um join Remy a doing punk okay yeah I could do both sex yeah yeah see if we've been managing me right now you're working me me both games. Let's go. Dead Prez. Uh-huh. M.O.P. Wow. Alcoholics. Alcoholics. Wow.

Exhibit. Three Six Mafia. Three Six Mafia. Flex. Pete Rock. I'm trying to see what other label can pull this off. I don't think so. And this is a tour. Let's be clear. I don't know if it's a tour yet. We're going to see what other label can pull this off. I don't think so. And this is a tour.

Let's be clear. I don't know if it's a tour yet. We're going to see how the first one goes. No, it's a tour, Steve. It's a tour. I'm going to be honest. I mean, it'd be a great tour, but he's being careful. It's a headache tour.

Let's see how the first one goes. Don't get me wrong. It's a headache tour because this is like a venue tour. This is a summer jam tour. This could be a festival. Yeah, this is a festival. That's what I'm trying to get at. Thank you. No, we got everybody.

And the surprise guests are going to be the surprise guests. Right. Holy shit, Elliot Wilson. Okay. Tell Elliot I said hello. Oh, shit. I ain't answering his question. He got a real eye. So,

I think it could be a tour. I ain't answering this question. He got a real eye. So, so, so you don't think, I think it could be a tour. I think it could be a tour. I think. No, it definitely could be a tour. Right.

But let's, you know. Cause Wu, cause Wu by they self, like, I'm not going to lie. I had a show with Wu Tang in San Diego. And.

That was the one with the aircraft carrier? Yes. And oh my god still to this day like I still like getting straight fan mode like when I start

seeing them like and it's crazy because you know they're older now and you know before they used to clash on stage and like and now they're older

and like so they like they know exactly where to be on stage at what time it's like it's like why for me it's like watching

the four tops or the you know like you know the temptations or tops or you know like like you know um the temptations or something like you know i'm saying but our version of the temptations because they're not you know dancing and holding the mic and throwing it on the floor and bringing it back up but it's our version of that you know what i mean i love to see like we did australia a year ago okay at the city opera house and i And it just worked to perfection. I mean,

that was real. Is that your favorite group you ever discovered? I know you can't say that because you're politically correct. No, I mean... It's your most proud moment. We can't love our kids more than the other,

but you know... They're my first child. Okay, there you go. On my first plaque. Okay, wow. That's great. And you know, they're my first child. Okay, okay, there you go. On my first plaque. Okay, wow. That's great. And you know, with the guys,

I have a relationship with all of them. You know, me and Matt have the same birthday, so you know, me and Rizzo still talk two, three times a week. Me and Ray talk

twice a month. I see Matt give Mike Kaiser dust, angel dust. It was the funniest thing in the world. You said that out loud? It was the funniest shit in the world.

We was out in Vegas and this is the time where Mike Kizer was still fronting like he smokes weed and shit like that. And Meph said, yo Nori, don't smoke that blunt. I said, what? He said, Norrie, don't smoke that blunt. I said, what? He said, everything else, don't smoke this one. So I said, you know what, I ain't smoking none of y'all shit. So I just stay over here and I'ma smoke my own shit. And Mike Kizer came over there and he hit the blunt. And boy, it was a different day, man.

I just got to let you know, Mike Kizer, I got you, baby. I'm not going to blow it up, Kizer. He's my brother. He's my like, I got you, baby. I'm not going to blow it up, cuz. He's my brother. He's my brother. I got you. But do you ever realize that, what is it called? A fraternity. Like, you know, in college, you know, you guys go to, you know, they do all this shit.

But years later, that's what a fraternity is. Right. Years later, they come and they see each other and they look out for each other. I feel like hip-hop is finally at the stage of what a fraternity is. Years later, they come and they see each other and they look out for each other. I feel like hip-hop is finally at the stage of becoming a fraternity. If I was ever walking a hotel and I was to see Salt-N-Pepa, my first thing is, let me make sure they're okay.

Right, right. As opposed to like, you know what I'm saying? It's automatically protective. Do you feel like hip-hop is becoming this fraternity? I think it's been for a minute. I think it's been, okay. Okay, that's great. Even with the divisions of the generations,

it seems like, like one thing is, so for example, why did you feel that right now was the time to do this concert? Like was there a reason for it or it just came together that way? I saw Puff do his show.

Which we were at, we were in the one in Vegas, right? Yeah, I did. That's her natural tour too. Yeah. Right, so I went to this show in L.A. And it blew my mind away. Like, literally just blew my mind away.

I'm coming off a heart attack, like, and I'm watching this. And I remember texting him the next morning and saying, I saw Michael Jackson perform at the Apollo, first time ever. Right. We got to get back to this. Right? I saw Michael Jackson perform at the Apollo, first time ever. We've got to get back to this. Right? Saw James Brown, right? And I said,

Pop, I've never seen a show like this in my life. And I said, I wonder if I could do it. And this was three years ago. So, I had a heart attack, so I'm just getting better, and then I started working with know, so I'm just getting, you know, better and then, you know,

I started working with Ye, so, you know, that took some time and then the opportunity of this just came.

So it's like a legacy show for you. I mean, that's what I think the bad boy one was a legacy thing. Maybe. I mean,

this is more like when you said, it's like, I never took the time to smell the roses. Right. I agree with you. Right? So I think this one, I'm patting myself on the back and saying, hey, look what it was.

Right. But it was Puff's show that really jump-started. That inspired you. Yeah. But I think this is definitely a tour. I think that we've interviewed everybody from like Depp Rez to Havoc to Pete Rock, obviously Wu-Tang. And everyone always salutes you as the OG, the CEO that was for the artist.

You know what I mean? So I feel like everyone will come together and just be like, yo, man, let's get... I don't want to say the last hoorah, but you remember how Dwayne Wade, he did the last... The last dance. And the last dance. I feel like this is for loud. You know what I'm saying?

For loud. I think everyone will come together. We really fought for our artists. I got arrested for throwing a chair through a glass door. It happens. For fighting for Wu-Tang. Getting the money that I felt they deserved.

For a video? Not for a video. It was to renegotiation. It was for Raekwon's solo record for Cuban Links and it was for the Wu-Tang Forever album. So with RCA? And RCA, we were $25,000 apart. I said,

just give them the fucking money. Right, right. And the business affairs was a woman. And she said, Steven Rifkin, I'm tired of your shit. I've never hit a woman

in my life. But I took this chair and if I was facing this way with 36 floors and it's going on Broadway and I turned it around and I threw it through the glass door.

36 floors? You're taking this 36 chain machine way too? You know the cops came security came they come to you Wow That's great, that's great And um, what do you feel about like the me to movement like cuz like, you know They got Russell like in Tahiti somewhere right now. They got him in Tahiti?

I mean, what you want me to say? He got himself. He's in Tahiti. That's my man. What do you feel about that? I personally seen Russell be loose, but I've never seen him in a rape shit. Come on, bro. Him raping somebody? I don't see that.

I don't see that at all. I mean, Russell's like all. Go on, man. I mean, Russell's like a brother to me, right? Yeah. So, you know, I wasn't around. When, you know, people are pressing charges on me from 35 years ago. Like, who the fuck even remembers 35 years ago? That's crazy. So it was like, you know, he was always, like, even when he was, when we had the Jimmy Spice record on my dad's label.

I mean, he was crazy, but he was always when we had the Jimmy Spice record on my dad's label, I mean, he was crazy, but he was always polite and just like, you know. Like Bill Cosby, I seen some shit with Bill, like, you know what I mean? I ain't, come on, like Russell was just. Russell wasn't drugging anybody. Yeah, Russell wasn't drugging nobody. He's like, I don't see that. But Bill was slipping pills and shit, like he got a little.

He got a little. I ain't gonna, Bill's a foul nigga. I tell i'll tell you all right i'm gonna leave that alone but so but you have the day that gabrielle union no it wasn't gabriel no because you make something rude it wasn't gabriel i know samaya lincoln i was good i was like i'm going there yeah i thought it was both no no gavin's just she's like a sister she introduced me just enough oh she introduces I thought it was both, no? No, Gabby's just, she's like a sister. She introduced me to Sanaa. Oh, she introduced you to Sanaa.

There you go. Y'all, Sanaa, that's art. She's a beautiful girl. How does that happen? I mean, how did it happen? This was pre-TMZ days, too. They would have eaten you up in the TMZ days no they killed me they killed you yeah they killed some out there was like because I just got out of my marriage and it was

like they called her a homewrecker and shit like that and it was just like get out of here yeah she wasn't a homewrecker that's just clear the way you said it you said it, you got to say it with more basic. She wasn't a homewrecker. Please, all right, cool. So big up. Y'all cool? Y'all still cool?

Oh, man, so not? Yeah. Very cool. She's cool with my ex-wife. Oh, yeah? And at one point, you left your wife, and you took it down puffs like a maid or some shit like that, right? You took it down puffs like a maid? Wow.

I'm not familiar with these things. We're here from classic era. Listen, man, listen, man. Steve has lived a life, man. And the same way I get rappers here. No, no, he's being fair. He's being fair. Like, you know, listen, listen.

As a married man, I admire when people were single, their days of being single and having fun. Because, okay, don't worry about it. But, you know, that's crazy. I mean, the issue was, you know, I fucked up, you know. Oh, shit. I didn't expect that. You know, when I was single, I didn't have money.

So, you know, when these records started coming, the checks started coming crazy. Shit changed. CEO checks is different. Let's talk about some checks. Sony checks? It started with the BMG checks. BMG. I just look at this. I just felt rich looking at that one. Because now they believe you, right? Because like, now they didn't have a choice. They didn't have a fucking choice.

A choice. I mean, now we just put them in a, I mean, it was just like, they knew when I threw the chair, they knew I wasn't playing. Yeah,

but at one point, I remember a fat show, I said, like, yo man, I'm going on a private jet with Steve Rifkin. I'm like,

what the fuck? Recently or back then? I mean, back then, like, I remember at one point, you was taking private jets. Yeah, so Quincy Jones turned me on

to the private planes. I love how he's named. Stunning, man. Yo, his name drop game is so nice. You know Quincy Jones. Come on, nigga, that's Quincy Jones. I'm open, I'm open, I'm open. So, you know, through the marketing company,

I was consulting Quincy's label. Okay, I'm open, I'm open. So, you know, through the marketing company, I was consulting Quincy's label, Quest. Okay, in my mind, you were speaking to Quincy Jones, y'all was drinking a glass of wine, and he said, what are you doing on commercial? Nah, this is how it's off. That's not how it happened. No, this is how it's off. I was imagining it, yeah, I could.

Me and my fiance are talking about our wedding day. Okay. And I'm lost in the house phone rings, and it's Quincy. And I remember this like it was yesterday. He. And I was in the house phone rings. And it's Quincy. And I remember this like it was yesterday. He goes, hey, Steve, it's Q. I'm like, who? He goes, Q.

And I got a, not an email. Brett Ratner called me who made the introduction. He goes, Quincy's going to be calling you. Mad name dropping right away. So Brett goes, Quincy's going to be calling you. Just, he wants to talk to you. Help him consult his label. So, he calls me and he goes, what are you doing tomorrow night?

I'm like, I don't know. He goes, have dinner with me. He goes, we're going to this place called Dre's. The finest woman in L.A. will be there. Okay. I thought Dre's was in Vegas, but this is out of my league. Yeah, this was on La Cienega. I got to relax. Let me be there. Okay, I thought Dre was in Vegas, but this is out of my league. Yeah, this was on La Cienega. I gotta relax, let me just listen, okay.

So, um, I go meet Quincy, and it's like love at first sight. Like, the woman, it's me and Quincy and like ten women. I mean, one more beautiful than the other. And he goes, I want to bring you in as a consultant. He goes, what are you

doing next Monday? No, next Tuesday. And I said, no. He goes, I want to bring you in as a consultant. He goes, what are you doing next Monday? No, next Tuesday. And I said, no, he goes, come to Chicago with me. I'm doing Oprah and I'm showcasing my brand new artist,

Tamiya. New brand of water? No, new artist. Okay. Tamiya. His brand new artist. Okay. So,

I end up in Chicago with Quincy. Y'all flew together? Yeah, on his plane. On his plane? To Chicago. And I was like, this is... You said no more American allies.

See you later, United. Delta, goodbye. So for two years, wherever Quincy went, I went. And it was just all, so he taught me how to play with money. Wow. And that's where you, the private chain?

Yeah, so I was like, I think when the Sony check came, then I was like, fuck y'all. This is the way. That was Fat Joe's question. Let the way that was Fat Joe's question Fat Joe said um

let me just pull up Fat Joe's question so you know that's when I do interviews he says how much dough did he blow and then he said

how big of a deal did he do with Sony because that must have been your that must have been your fuck you moment that was a real fuck you moment fuck you moment yeah let's make must have been your fuck you moment.

That was a real fuck you moment. Fuck you moment? Yeah. Let's make some noise for the fuck you moment. I can imagine. Thank you, Tommy Mottola. Yeah, thank you, Tommy Mottola. Let's make some noise for him.

We're going to get him on Drink Champs too. So this is after Wu-Tang works. This is after everybody works. Everybody works. Now you have a choice to go anywhere in the world. But, because isn't RCA, wasn't that merged

into the same Sony system? Not yet. Not yet. So break it down. So, Jimmy Iovine was my mentor. And he's at Uniscope.

And he's paying me a shitload of money. To consult. To consult. Jesus, you're getting money from everywhere, Steve. So, all Jimmy kept on saying to me is, fuck the bottom line and just think about the top line. Right? So, Quincy told me about planes. Jimmy told me about the chef and the driver.

Jesus. They teach you how to live life. I don't have none of these type of friends. So. Me and you got to develop more shit like this. I'm sorry, man. You got way better friends than me. I'm sorry.

You niggas need to step in your game. I'm just playing good, guys. So, I have a meeting with Strauss Zelnick and Pete Jones. Strauss Zelnick was the CEO of BMG and Pete Jones was set up distribution. And they said, you know, we need more profits from you.

And I said, I'm not giving you more profits. I'm building these fucking artists. Fuck you. Whatever happens, happens. And the next day, my lawyer calls. They're willing to let you go.

Who's saying they're willing to let you go? My attorney called me. He said, they're willing to let you go. SRC? Loud. Loud. Oh.

So, it's Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party. SRC Loud Loud Oh So It's Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Party I walk in there And it was like The Red Sea opened up Like

Every Like everybody just came At me You know Tommy Doug This one that one And I didn't say a fucking word

Because I didn't even know Like Alright cause you You're going too crazy For our listeners When you say Tommy You gotta one that one and I didn't say a fucking word because I didn't even know like alright cause you you're going too crazy for our listeners when you say Tommy you gotta say Tommy Matto Tommy Matto

when you say Doug you gotta say Doug Morris yeah you know what I'm saying cause they just thinking like it's Doug from down the block and like they don't know you know what I'm saying

and Tommy's Sony so Tommy was Sony Doug is Universal Doug just came to Universal um so every CEO of every music group is calling and they're kissing my ass during the whole fucking night.

Right? I didn't even have a chance to tell my wife it. So she goes, what the fuck is going on? I'm like, I said I'll tell you when I get home. So I picked Tom. I told her. Because with Davey. Based on the meetings?

Or? No, so. Because you took everyone's meeting. I took everybody's meeting. Okay. One hundred percent. Um,

my first choice was really Jimmy and Doug. Right. I don't know, something was up. Right. Whatever, I think Jimmy was maybe redoing his deal, or whatever,

and I was like, nah. And, um, Master P was really blowing up at that time. Wow. Priority. Yeah, I mean, he was just blowing up.

I mean, everything that he put out, I mean, was going platinum. I was like, what? Like, how the fuck is he doing? I mean, I know how he was doing it, but I wanted to see it with my own eyes. So I went on a tour bus for six weeks. With Master P? No, by myself. Oh, wow. And I just did the South

and just trying to get what the... Oh, you trying to get a feel of like what the fuck is really going on. The vibe down South, right. So, 3-6 Mafia

was signed to Relativity. Wow. And everybody, everywhere that I went to... Was Alan Grumlock involved in that deal? I'm sure he was. And he was on Relativity too, right?

In the beginning, yeah. Yeah, okay. So I was, but everywhere I went, everybody started talking about the next thing to pop is Three Six Mafia. Wow.

So when me and Tommy had the meeting, it was, who do you want to be at Columbia Epic? I said, I want Relativity. Wow. And he looked at me

like I was on crack. And you wanted to acquire Relativity? So we didn't acquire it, but we merged. It was the first time done in the music business. You being up with Sony to do that move. I had loud. So we brought BMG out. So now I own 100% of loud.

Right. I merged loud into Relativity. So now we're the third major. So that's how you adjusted. Okay. And I didn't really listen to Three Six Mafia. And you were one of the first labels to, besides obviously Priority and Master P,

to see that future in the South. Yeah. Well, P was the first one. No, he was the first one, yeah. God bless him. Holy moly guacamole. This is history right here, man. This is history.

So, you merged. We merged. And then we had one amazing year. And then it just became too corporate for me. Yeah. Why? It was like quarterly numbers, this numbers, that numbers. And I was miserable.

Wow. Wow. So, that numbers, and I was miserable. Wow. Wow. So that's when you, so basically, all right, so you're saying you sold the company, basically? Yeah, I sold the company, and I had not worked for the company that I sold. And so like, so Russell, like for instance, I think Russell had to do that with Def Jam.

Well, Russell, I mean, Lior stayed, Lior became the CEO of Island Def Jam. Right. And you hated it? You hated it? Yeah. Because of your face. I mean not Lior stayed Lior became the CEO of Island Duff Jam right so and you hated it you hated it yeah because of your face I tried to convince him

to be like no don't say that so I remember going to Hawaii with my son and my wife and I said I think I'm going to send Tommy Mottola

back his money oh shit and I'm just going to leave, right? And I'm out playing ball, and I see these big two Samoans coming running to the courts. Were you a tribe exact? And nobody knew where I was, except for my mother. Right.

And I'm like, somebody mother. Right. And I'm like, something, somebody died. Right. And they said, you have an emergency on the mainland. Right. So I called my office

and they sent me straight to Rich. Right. I just said. Yeah. And Rich said, Pun had a heart attack or he's not dead yet.

So I called Joe and just as I called Joe, he just passed. And in my mind, I was retiring. I think I was going to move to Hawaii. Right.

And, um... I just got back from Hawaii to tell you the truth. Yeah, that's crazy. That's why this story is fucking me up in a different way, but I'll continue.

So I'm like, who knows? And Joe says, nobody. I said, I'm going to call Angie. Because, you know, she was part of Terror Squad in a crazy way. Martinez. Angie Martinez. Yeah, she still is. Yeah.

I called Angie. I told her. And I just, like, the letter that I wrote Tommy, I told her. I just, the letter that I wrote Tommy, I ripped up, jumped on the plane, dropped everybody off in L.A., and I went straight to New York. But, I didn't retire.

So I stayed there another two, three years. Speaking of that, you know, Pond was like our closest friend. He was one of our best friends. I mean, you guys had that amazing record together.

Yeah, we had 15. Yeah, but that You Came Up video? Oh, yeah. James Bond?

I mean, yeah. Hilarious video. I'll tell you something. Thank you for checking. I was about to go, thank you, thank you,

Steve. You know, I was about to go, like, you know. Depressing? Yeah, depressing.

Let me tell you something about that video. The reason why you guys had a two-hour overage on the video is because, you remember, the guy jumps from the thing? You know, Pun really wanted to do that. So the whole time, Pun is like, you know, Pun is like, I don't need no stuntman. And he's got me over there. He's like, you're right, Nori. And I'm like, oh, fuck.

You know you don't want to say right because I know my friend is over where you can't jump over no fuckingman. And he's got me over there. He's like, you're right, Nori. And I'm like, oh, fuck. You know you don't want to say right. I know my friend is over where you can't jump over no fucking building. You know I'm talking about on the building. He jumps over. So they have a stuntman there to do it. And the stuntman is like a hundred pounds. And Pond is like, he's not going to look like me.

I'm going to do it. And he kept trying to say, yo, Nori, tell him that I can do it. And I'm like, there's no way you're going to give me those. But that was the craziest, funny part. So if you ever remember, you had guys that had like two hours over it because I was sitting there like, nah, man, I can't allow you to do it, Pun.

But Pun was, Pun really, you know, the beautiful thing about Pun is Pun. Pun loves being a celebrity. He loves being a celebrity. And he never felt big no like he moved like he was lighter than everyone in this place like i kid you not but good so i'll tell you a great story right please still not a play is blowing up blowing up he comes back from you know doing a show he buys himself the most beautiful human link bracelet that's a big

punisher i was like wow show money really must be made. I said, this bracelet's beautiful. Right? He goes, if we go platinum, I'm going to get you one. I go, pun,

we're shipping platinum. I mean, right? He goes, two million. I'm like, nah, we'll be at two million

in a week. Right? And I'm not thinking anything, so it's like, if we do four million, you know, you can get me something. And I'm fucking around, not even thinking.

Cut to a year and a half later, we hit the four million mark. You know, whatever it is. And the guy by the name of Gerard Hunt, who was our product manager, walks into my office, he goes, Pun wants to see you today. To discuss the next album.

So I'm like, alright. So I called Joe So I'm like, all right. So I called Joe. I'm like, hey, is it cool? Pun wants to come in. He goes, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Comes in, and I'm fucking around with him. I'm like, you know what? You gave me your word.

You were going to buy me a fucking Cupid Link bracelet. You know, when we went for a million, we're at 4.3. And you don't have shit. I mean, I gave you my word. Reaches out of his pocket. He goes, fuck're at 4.3. Right. And you don't have shit. I mean, I gave you my word. Mm-hmm. Reaches out his pocket, he goes, fuck you, motherfucker. And he throws this box, you know, all wrapped up with the most beautiful, I have it framed, like in a box, with my name on it, all diamonds.

Wow. Damn. Wow, gotcha. Make some noise for Big Puck. Yeah. Goddamn. Goddamn. Make some noise for Big Puddin'. A lot of times the big economic forces we hear about on the news show up in our lives in small ways. Three or four days a week, I would buy two cups of banana pudding. But the price has gone up, so now I only buy one. The demand curve in action. And that's just one of the things we'll be covering on Everybody's Business from Bloomberg Businessweek.

I'm Max Chavkin. And I'm Stacey Vanek-Smith. Every Friday, we will be diving into the biggest stories in business, taking a look at what's going on, why it matters, and how it shows up in our everyday lives. But guests like Businessweek editor Brad Stone, sports reporter Randall Williams, and consumer spending expert Amanda Mull will take you inside the boardrooms, the backrooms, even the signal chats that make our economy tick.

Hey, I want to learn about VeChain. I want to buy some blockchain or whatever it is that they're doing. So listen to Everybody's Business on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves. This medal is for the men who went down that day. It's for the families of those who did make it.

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So, you know, not to like, you know, be all like, you know, but from pun, you have to speak about prodigy. Like where was you at when you got that news? I was here. My daughter was on. Miami? You say here? I was in Florida. Yeah, Florida, yeah.

Yeah, my daughter was taking a rotas. Oh, wow. God bless. And Rich Isison kept on calling me. And I'm like, all right, something. I mean, he's called me like four times in a row. So it's either good news or bad news. And I don't want to hear anything.

Right. Right. Until I see her. And he texted me, call me now, urgent. Rich? Rich. Rich. Okay. So, I see my daughter

coming in from taking her road test. Did she pass? Well, I'm like, now I'm on the phone with Rich. He goes, are you sitting down? I'm like, oh, fuck, what you saying, right?

And I go, I'm not sitting down. I go, what's the matter? He goes, she died. And she's walking in. And I can't tell if she passed or not passed. Right. But I'm hysterical crying now. Right.

And she passed. I couldn't really enjoy that with her. I understand that moment. But it was just, that was a hard one for me. Now I've got to rewind a little more. Apologies. But we're all on the subject. Now your first group, your first sons,

your first child, you have a son, Wu-Tang Clan. You know, you've got Capadonna that went away or whatever, but the passing of ODB. He comes home. He wasn't quite like Wu-Tang Clan when he came home. He was quite like, you could tell he was in a confused state. I don't want to say, because I don't want to say he was Rockefeller or any of that. I just want to say that, you know, he just came home.

He wanted to be in his self. But then he, that he passes away. That has to be the case. So I'm flying to New York. And I land, the second I put up my phone from the plane, that has to be so this I'm flying I'm flying to New York and um I land the second I put on my phone from the plane

I don't have loud at the time anymore now I have SRC records right and Akon is blowing the fuck up at this time David Banner's on SRC

there's loud yeah so Divine calls me and said Dirty just passed 20 minutes ago. I'm like, where are you? He says, the studio. So, I just went straight to the studio.

His body was still there when I got there. Damn. Wow. like you know for people like who's CEOs for people who's rappers people who's just human beings like cause you you're attached

to it's not like you're not one of those CEOs I'm not Tommy Mottola I'm not Thug Mars I mean you know without saying that

cause you know sometimes our audience might not understand that what I'm saying is you're a human like you're a person that, because, you know, sometimes our audience might not understand that. What I'm saying is you're a human. Like, you're a person that's involved.

Like, you're not looking at a person like there's numbers. So, dealing with that, like, how do you cope every day?

you know what I mean? Because I can imagine your artist was your friends as well. I mean, all of it. Really just, I mean, it takes it. Really just, just,

I mean, it takes a piece out of you. Right. Yeah. Right. And then, you know,

you know, dealing with the pun that stayed and, you know, you know, Fat Joe's one of my best friends

and, you know, like, how did that just feel? Like, you know what I'm saying? Well, Pun was signed to Joe.

Right. So, I never, me and Pun just feel? Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, seeing the discrepancy. Well, okay, Punn was signed to Joe. Right. So, I never, me and Punn had a relationship. Mm. But all business stuff, I dealt with Joe and the attorneys. Mm-hmm. Right? So, you know, and the thing is, Joe gets a bad rap, you know, for what people say, you know, what he did with Punn. Right. But it's really not true.

That's real shit. So, I mean, he treated Pun like a brother, and made sure Pun got everything that he deserved. Yeah, I know that. I know that, but when I say it, it makes me feel like, just because, you know, Joe's my brother. Yeah, like I'm biased, so that's why. That was him.

You know, he said that, you know what I mean? But Steve, man, I just want to reiterate, you know he said that you know what I mean but Steve man I just wanna I just wanna reiterate you know how great you are man you know what I mean I appreciate that I know you for years

and whenever I have one of your artists on the record or whenever your artists I've seen you out and dinner Steve always

he's the greatest places in the world you know what I'm saying? Whenever I see you, and you always kept your word. And I just want to salute you for that. You know what I'm saying? I want to salute you for that. When you was the hottest, when you was coming up in the game to the biggest in the game

to still just maintain your bigness, you always has been a person of your word. So now, what is, we got the concert. What is next? And we understand you're managing DMX. As first of all, how is DMX? He's good. He's good? He's good.

Is he, okay. And he's on Def Jam, right? He's on Def Jam. That's a beautiful thing. Let's make some noise for DMX. good as he is he okay he's on Def Jam right he's on Def Jam that's the beautiful thing you know what Def Jam um I hear other podcasts critique you and I hear other podcasts like you know actually diss you and I'm gonna tell you something Def Jam I disagree with those podcasts in totality the fact that you guys got LL Cool J. Yeah, no. Says a lot. And DMX back on your roster.

To me, that's kind of like dope. That's like loud starting a game with Wu-Tang Clan. I would love that. Paul's at the realm at this point. So Paul is at the realm and Rich is number two. Rich Isaacson. Oh, wow. Paul Rosemar.

Okay. Big him up, even though I heard he's not fans of us. It's okay. Really? Really? No, not in a bad way. Not in a bad way. Right, so I'm making him up even though I heard he's not fans of us. It's okay Not in a bad way, not in a bad way He's just you know, he's the one in the come on in cuz we smoking God. Look Steve didn't smoking get hot We're having a great fucking interview He did not hate on us and as early just you know did block us, okay, I mean Paul's a real hip-hop head

It was yeah block us. Paul's a real hip-hop head. He is, yeah. He was a lawyer for a lot of underground guys back in the day, Scam, the guy with the logo. I respect Paul to the fullest. And then Rich, you know, the pedigree, it's like we both learned from my dad, right? So, you know, even though

I always thought Rich was Jonathan. Did you know the crazy shit? I always thought Rich was Jonathan. Did you know the crazy shit? I always thought Jonathan was Rich. That's fine. It's the crazy shit. I was like, oh shit, I know Rich. So we all grew up around the corner from each other. This is Manhattan?

No, this is Long Island. Long Island? What part of Long Island are y'all from? America. Listen, America people, if y'all American, y'all broke, y'all fucking up. Look at us.

Yes, okay. So it's like we always had, you know, the dream. Like, all right, we'll all eventually. You know, Rich was a lawyer by trade. Went to law school, went to Ivy League school. Jonathan went to the University of Maryland. And it was always our dream to just always work together. Like Rockefeller, like all these great record labels.

Are you a fan of these new record labels. Are you a fan of these new record labels? I'm a fan of my son's new label. Oh, what is that? What is it? My son has a deal

through Atlantic called Chosen. Chosen? Why are we making no noise for that? God damn it. Chosen.

And what's his name? His name is Alex. Alex Rifkin. Alex Rifkin. Alex Rifkin. That's dope. So, and how he's doing it, he's taking a mixture of what's going on today, you know, digitally, and then my blueprint on how I did it.

He just signed O.D. Bastis. O.D. Bastis. He just signed this kid out of Detroit. Okay. Which reminds me of an out of Detroit. Okay. Which reminds me of an MOP. You know, like, he's on the road now. So it's like, he's doing that, but then he'll, like, have conversations with SoundCloud.

Right. Right? That's great. He'll have conversations with Spotify. But he's on the road. Like, he's living on the road the way I was living on the road. Wow. Did he give him that advice or he did it on the road?

No, so he's a ball player. He played college ball. He played D1 ball, everything. So he took that work ethic. That's hard. He took that work ethic and put it here. Like with somebody on his team who was like a producer, he goes, yo, this kid has incredible beats, this, that, whatever, right?

So sorry, Steve. I ain't gonna front the smokers. No, it's okay. That's not me. It's not him. It's the smoke. No, it's the smoke. He had his own mind. I just realized.

It's the smoke we're going for. It's the smoke tracer from Lost. Okay. So he, you know, so I'm really, like, he took his basketball work ethic or his sports work ethic and just, like, unreal. Like, he, you know, when we announced the show, he was like, hey, Dad, it would be nice if his new artist, who's actually bubbling, not the kid out of Detroit, but this other kid out of Seattle, can he open it? Can he be the first one to open up the show? I'm like, yeah, of course. You know?

In New York, Radio City Music Hall. Yeah. It's a great fucking opportunity. So, but I'm really proud of what he's doing.

And then, you know, my youngest son is a rapper, ball player. So he made a record,

um, he's going to kill me when he sees this, but it's like, the kid can really fucking spit.

cause why they don't, they don't want that. No, he's still in high school. Like,

you know, his team is like top five in the country. No, Bronnie's on his team. Z-Waite's on it, you why, they don't want, no, he's still in high school, like, you know, his team is like, top five in the country, no, Bronny's on his team, Z-Waite's on it, you know, so it's like,

because you ever heard of the rapper Russ? We had a rapper, we had a rapper Russ, and rapper Russ got on here, and he was, because people, his father was in the industry, so they called him an industry plant,

and he hated that, you know what I mean? He hated that, so, you think your kids would think that? No, my kids don't want nothing to do with it. Like, they're doing it all.

Like, I had no idea. Like, when Ryan did this record, and he did it with three of his friends, Alex calls me and he goes, you hear the record? I'm like, what record? He goes, Ryan did a record

last night. He goes, it's Fire. Sends me the record, and I was like, shit like this kid like he I call him like Ryan who wrote this he goes I did so it's like all right you know let's bring Jonathan in here man come on let's get let's get a seat for Jonathan yeah let's call Mr. Lee's seat the g-wagon what about it no that's the that's your song the g- about it yeah well that's my oldest son come on good we need a mic let's get more money yeah Jonathan me you know I feel a

little shot where's Randy Randy left he's laying down he's getting he's getting a come on. I don't know if you know this me and Randy would name it I'd listen to the same camera home If we put them here, that's too much Yeah That's the end of the scene. That's the end of the scene. There we go. No, but not there, buddy. Not there? To the left.

Yeah, let's make it work so he's comfortable and we can all look at each other's faces. Oh, damn. You just destroyed equipment. So not. Action. I mean, how much you waiting? Some night. Oh, I should. Thanks, Lee. So, please, make sure the Ciroc shine.

And the D'Ussé, too. That we blow. Because I've been getting pressure. Like, unbelievably. How did you say? That's it. That's it. No. Like, you want to nominate me? That's not hard to say. That's it. I don't care, man. Don't take this shit home with you.

You want a blunt? Come on, come on, John. You're a legend, John. You gotta do it. Come on, you gotta be in here too. Come on, we're all legends. Let's do it. I should have a drink on Drink Champs. You should have a drink on Drink Champs. I should have a drink on drink champs. You should have a drink on a shot for drink on drink Let's go. All right, let's go Yeah, I'm really small more of a drink

I'm sticking with little Wayne. Okay, so Bumble bumble I had a great sleep this morning Well, I did not diet at all. I woke up and I ate like a motherfucking cow motherfucker. And I've been eating for two weeks, and I've been in Kauai, that's why you said that. I did Maui, bro. I ain't gonna lie.

I've been to Kauai, I've been to all over. You've been to Kaunafi? You know, I've been everywhere. The only place that I fucking didn't enjoy was Honolulu, because I went out there and I was performing. So I promised myself I should go back there. And I didn't, I played myself. So I gotta go back to Honolulu.

But Maui's my favorite, yo, out of all the islands. Because you know, I could bring my friends that's on the run. No, because I'm listening. Did I say that out loud? But they can still go. Come on. We're ready for EFN. Come on, EFN.

He's doing PPs. He's doing PPs. It's okay. We're ready for it. Usually, we just go without them. I'm ready. No, no, no. I want to.

This is industry talk. No, this is industry talk. I want to. Because EFN was the street team that you hired. That's hard. He was that Miami guy. Yep. that you hired. That's hard. He was our Miami guy, yep. That's hard. That's hard.

Did we hire him? He'll tell you right now. Trust me, he has a tennis ball. We did. We had a girl named Jessie. We had a girl named Jessie. Rob loved it. Look, he knows who it is.

Watch this. He knows everything about it. But EFN talks, but it's different. He talks, but it's different. Let's go, EF this. He knows everything about you. Let's go, EFN. We're waiting for you. We brought Randy in here. And we brought John's motherfucking brisket in here. Are you what?

You ready? You want some mac and cheese? Yeah. I got some mac and cheese coming soon. All right, we ready? We back, motherfucking drink champs. Listen, so listen. So listen.

We just brung in. Oh, God damn, I love Boris sometimes. Sometimes Boris is great. Sometimes you love Boris? Yeah, I love him most of the time. But we got motherfucking Randy Acker here. We got motherfucking Jonathan Rifkin here. And we got motherfucking Steve Rifkin here. These are the behind the scenes ofscenes of behind-the-scenes.

So this is just, I would like to call the people, this is pure game right now. You understand? Pure game. Do you remember how Lyle's run? And where were you at then when Lyle was just destroying? Or was you the opposite side? I don't know if I was the opposite side. I feel like I was a...

We were natives. Yeah, before I was even in hip-hop, I lived across the hall from Steve on 55th Street when I was working at SBK Records with... SBK Records? Vanilla Ice and Wilson Phillips and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Definitely before Marcus.

Diggable Planets. Marcus Morton. Diggable Planets. Marcus Morton. Diggable Planets. Oh, Diggable Planets. Yeah. Whoa. Wild Pitch, Pendulum Records. Wild Pitch was doing a lot.

I lived across the hall from Steve. That's where I met him. Main source of Wild Pitch, yeah. Get the fuck out of here. Yeah. Jeez Louise, Papa G's. So how, y'all said, y'all didn't know that y'all was both in the music industry? No, we knew.

We did, but I really wasn't in his part of the business then. I was at EMI. I was in business affairs. I wasn't in hip-hop. Not until I got into Def Jam that I had an appreciation for what he really had done. Right. So you was on the lawyer side at the time where you lived with each other? Yes.

Okay. And you were? Wow. Wow. He was popping. Yeah. He was the guy. I knew that. Yeah, he was the guy. I knew that.

I just wasn't in it. I knew who he was, for sure. So Jonathan, when was the first time you met Chris Lighty? First time I met Chris Lighty, wow. It had to be at 741 Broadway. 841 Broadway. 841 Broadway. That's not where I'm from.

Our first office. In New York. In New York. And I think I met him with, I want to say, Peter Thomas. They were both. How can I be down? Well, Def Jam. He's out here were both... How can I be down with Def Jam? He's out here right now.

I think they were both, in some way, shape, or form, they were both working with Def Jam. And they were up at the office. I don't know if they were together, but they were friends. And Chris was, as you know, a great friend of mine.

I was going to ask you the same question, too. When was the first time you met Chris Lighty? And then I would just see Chris everywhere. Shaquem introduced me to Chris. Flavor Unit. Flavor Unit. Where at? You don't remember?

Yeah. My office. In L.A. Wow. In L.A. Wow. In L.A. And then we just developed a relationship. Was he the one who brought you Mark Deep? No.

Wow. So he wasn't managing Mark Deep when you... No, a woman by the name of Tammy, I forgot her last name, brought me Mark Deep. Had you even heard that first album they did? That premiere was executive producer? Yeah, yeah. From the back? Yeah, yeah.

And probably hallway. I heard that in Spoffy. That's a whole other story. When did you first meet Chris Lady? I met Chris Lady at 160 Barrack Street. 160 Barrack Street. Yeah. That is Def Jam, the first Def Jam. Chung King is across the street.

Chung King is the very next building. Across the street. That's probably the illest, at that point. The Arab? The Arab. It was bananas. Yeah, because Russell Simmons had managed everybody. Because Russ Management was in there as well.

Russ Management was in there. At that point, Violator had their label deal there so Chris was in the back that's why in our department right but the whole building was just out of control I mean when I really really I'd met Chris but he got into an altercation with one of the artists he was mistaken for being artists brother yeah DMX DMX yeah heX and then it was both. That was the first day you met Chris? That was like, not the first day I met him, but I had started to develop a relationship after that.

Like we had talked, we knew each other, but, you know, because I had ended up working with X, which was very strange because I was a lawyer at Def Jam and then somehow, I don't know, I guess when you're in a small company and it's exploding, it's all, you know, everybody does whatever needs to happen. At that point, Irv had to kind of, you know, go be with Ja a little more and there was no one really be with X. And they were like, oh, Acker, you know the Rough Riders?

And I had no idea. You just go here. But I just went. I just went. But Chris was like, he was very mentoring. Like, he always was, like, very warm and welcoming and opening and wanted to share game with me. And with other people, not just me. I mean, I just found him to be like that. So before we get crazy,

I still don't believe Chris killed himself. I just need your opinion. What do you think? I mean, I know how much he loves his kids, right? Yes. So, I mean, we all have kids and I just, no matter how down, you know, I can be, I mean, I mean, we all have kids, and I just, no matter how down, you know, I can be, I mean, I would, I mean, his kids were his life, so.

So, basically, you're saying you're with me. You don't believe he killed himself. You think it's a conspiracy theory somewhere. I spoke to him that day. What? The day that he's supposed to have killed himself? Yeah. Okay.

Wow. It was, I needed 50 for something. 50 cents? Yeah. Okay, I'm digging. All right. So these boxing promoters wanted to have a Floyd Mayweather fight in Dubai, and it would have been the biggest fight

in the history of fights. Okay. And I needed 50 to get to Floyd. Wow. Okay. And you spoke to Chris that day?

Yeah. All right. Now, I have never heard this story. This is not even funny. This is me personally. Did he sound like he was going to kill himself? No. Did he sound like he was going to kill himself?

No. Did he sound like he was mad that day? No. I've never heard this story, Steve. So this is him. We had our laugh. He goes, is there money to be made? I'm like, Chris, we'll make more money on this one shot than we'll ever make in our life.

Wow. I just want the people to know that I've been saying this for four years. Yeah, consistently you've been saying it. And I've always said that. I've been saying this for four years. I've always said that. I've never believed that yet. I'm glad that you didn't even know that. You're giving your side of the story. That's fucking awesome for me.

But in that note, we talked about Big Pun. We talked about Prodigy. We talked about... Weren't you going to say something about Jay-Z? We're coming back to that. But I just wanted to, for our fallen soldiers, everyone that we just talked from,

everybody from Louds and everyone, we're going to take a shot for them, man. Salud. Salud. Salud. Salud. Salud. And this is... How do we pronounce this? Boom boom. Boom boom.

Boom boom. Colombian fire water. I got two great Chris stories. So you met...okay, you wanna go to Chris story? Cause I got some Kanye shit I wanna hit you with. Cause you managed Kanye? No, I didn't manage Kanye. You was around him during the Make America Hat Great.

I ran his label. Wasn't it something with merch? No, I ran his label. Oh, that's right. But it was awkward because I know you. You are not a Make America Great. I'm not a Make America Great, but in my way. Right.

Yes, yes. Not MAGA, exactly. I'm not a Make America Great, but in my way. Right. Yes, yes. Not MAGA, exactly. I'm going to tell you something about Kanye. Okay. I love him like a son. I love him like a son. That's hard. I want him to distribute my sneakers.

The nigga don't be calling me back. I mean, he... I got my own sneakers. I don't want you to distribute my shit. He has a heart of gold. Yes. And... Kanye...

When he was wearing that he doesn't want to be dictated to saying hey you gotta vote for Bob you gotta you know so it's like he's his own man and he wants to make his choice so whatever he says sometimes

it comes out of his heart. Where he doesn't like, all right, let me bring it back and let me say it this way. This guy has passion like there's no tomorrow. Like when me and him went our own different way, like, and it was mutual. He goes, I want to take care of you for two years. You don't have to do that. Like 48 hours later. Like a severance package type of thing?

Yeah. And I'm like, yeah, I'm here for you. Just, you know, whatever it is. Right. That's all. So when he wore the hat, I don't think he was doing it because he loves Trump so much. Right. Because you remember the first picture it was. It was him, Lior. I took so much. Right. Because you remember the first picture it was. It was him, Lior.

I took the picture. Steve. They know this. So it was him, Lior, who else? Who else? Um,

Lucy and Drake. That's the guy from Universal. Yeah. Right. Okay. Oh my God. Okay. So,

did you know how this picture was going to go crazy? No, I wasn't even paying attention to the fucking hat, to be honest with you. Right, right.

Okay. So, um, because even paying attention to the fucking hat. Right, right. Okay. So, um, because... He didn't see the hat. Because the shirt that he wore was Free Larry Hoover. Mm. Damn. Got me.

Nobody saw that. No one saw that. That's crazy. No, no one saw that, Steve. Wow. That's, you know, all right, cool. We're going to have to pull that picture up again. We're going to even that out real quick, that, Steve. Wow. That's, you know, all right, cool. We're going to have to

pull that picture up again. We're going to even that out real quick, right? Okay, we'll continue. So, I mean, I think Kanye does want to make America great again. Right.

But his way. Which, you know, he wants it to be a free America. Right. You know, so it's not like I'm for Trump. I mean, Trump just had that hat.

I think Kanye is like, all right, let's do it. You're on mine. You can speak whatever the fuck you want without worrying. Like, outrage culture shit is going crazy. So that's really what it was. But the two years that we were together, I mean, they were, I mean, I worked with them. So you was in, what's that shit, Naomi? What's that shit?

Wyoming. Wyoming. Naomi? What? Wyoming. Naomi was in Wyoming? For the album missing? No, I'm talking about just period.

Just general. Out there, I would be coming to Wyoming. It's not cool for me. No. I was not comfortable ever in Wyoming. So the first time was I think in Jackson, right? Where we had the

the the album I like the fourth season. Whatever the fourth season is I like that's the only part. Me too. I'm a little pissed off.

Yeah, okay, good. And then around three months ago he called he goes if I send you a plane he doesn't have to send me a plane. Send you a plane?

Yeah. This is fly shit. If I send you a plane can you come see have to send me a plane. Send you a plane? Yeah. This is fly shit. If I send you a plane, can you come see me? I need to talk to you. Okay. He doesn't tell you where? No, to Wyoming.

To Wyoming. Not where, so, he sent me the plane. We had our lunch. We had our meeting. We spent the night, and I flew back the next morning. But he really is, he's an amazing father. It's amazing

He's a genius I went on Nick Cannon's show right you asked me about The album I liked it, but did you like it and you just you just do to me the whole time Oh, yeah, but so it's like I just said I didn't like the album. So people thought that, like, I was, like, being malicious about this kid. I didn't say that at all. You're giving your honest opinion. I'm giving my honest opinion.

Which is what Kanye's arguing. That's his argument. You can have your opinion. You can have an opinion. I never said I didn't like him or, like, it was something personal for him. Like, Kanye's first daughter, his name, her nickname is Nori. Like, why would I ever, like, disrespect? But I just gave my Nori. Why would I ever disrespect, but I just gave my honest opinion.

I'm honored. The first time I met Kim Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Kanye grabbed Kim Kardashian and walked over to me and said, this is who we named our daughter after, Nori. This is Nori. This is real shit. This is on the E Hollywood channel.

They blocked my face out because I didn't sign off. But, you shit, but this is on the e Hollywood channel. They blocked my face outside sign off Like I didn't mean it to be malicious when I said that just disliked it like, Mark Sean Lynch out of this motherfucking phone, you know what I'm saying? But, what I'm trying to say is, like, I didn't mean it to be malicious when I said that I just disliked Jesus King, because I'm thinking this is a spirit rap album

when this kind of was a gospel album, and that's cool, that's cool. If I was taught that, and they just took that line and just rammed with everything,

they never, but how many other 99 episodes of Drink Champs, what I'm saying, college dropout, what I'm saying, Kanye's the fucking president you know i said i'll vote for kanye for president they just took it they just took that one sound bite and and i i didn't mind because i seen beautiful view what's my man's name for um akon's brother so i seen you and i was like boo what's up he was like what's up he said what's up i was like, what's up? And he said, what's up? I was like, tell Kanye I want one.

I want him on a drink chat. So he looked at me like, you know you don't want Kanye on a drink chat. And I'm looking like, because this is tele-leak, us having an conversation. Like, we're not, nothing's coming out of our mouths. Like, I said, yo, tell Kanye I want him on. He looked at me like. And our minds start talking. He said, you don't want Kanye on a drink chat. our mouths like we I say yo tell Kanye I want more he looked at me like and our mind start talking he said

no hurt you said that was the one statement this is in our minds I don't even know if this conversation really happened you ever seen Watson and Holmes I went to walk Watson and Holmes? I went to a bar. Watson and Holmes is a... Nobody knows what Watson and Holmes is. Please pull it up. Damn, nothing. Listen, I watch all the...

For lack of a better term, I watch all the white movies. The white dumb movies. You know, the dumb and dumberest? I watch it. You don't know what I'm talking about? Huh? A little firm?

Yeah! That shit is hilarious! I'm sorry. I went too far. So, now. Loud motherfucking records. Loud motherfucking Records. This motherfucking thing.

You've been in the bad boy thing. Is this Loud Records a tour, Randy Acker? This is a tour. Oh, yeah. I mean, just that show he's doing. If you look down the list, you're like, damn. Especially if you want to give me, say, a couple of prodigy versions. I think this is a tour tour with Drink Champs attached to it.

I've heard that. That's pretty cool. That's funny. Drink Champs attached to it. I've heard that could be cool. That's right. Woo! That's it. Dream Champs attached to it. Dream, come on. Because I've been looking at the flyers.

There's no host today. DJ EFN, turn around the motherfuckers. You know what I mean? Yo, yo, yo, yo. I did it tonight. What? All my kids. Jonathan said he should take Dream Champs on the road.

With the loud talk, we are together like we benched this bag. I'm gonna be honest with you. You know what the crazy thing is? One of my best friends, one of my great friends, is Boston Rhymes, right? And I fuck with him every two or three months, right like somebody would ask me like the biggest bag would they be like you think buster would take it and i always fuck a buster because i know he's never gonna do it you know

i just started managing cool buster oh shit all right let me say something about buster all right if you want to be funny this is my brother listen this is the funniest joke. I won't deal with numbers, but let's just say this is the number Buster wants, right? You can give Buster that same number plus a little something, but if you say it's an old school show... He won't do it.

He won't do it. I don't know if it's just going on with the fuck. I'm just saying. You bring Busta the same bag. Babe, one might be a little bigger. But Busta feels like, nah, I'm not old school, so I never have to do

an old school show. And that is the most honorable thing that I can tell y'all, my dude. Like, that's honorable. Because me, I don't really give a fuck. Old school's another $35,000. I'm here. Call me old, nigga.

I'm doing Rob Banks in them niggas. It take two to make a thing go around. How about that with that generation? Listen, I'm with the MC Light in them. I don't care. But listen, let me tell you something about Buster Rhymes, bro. I've tried. And then for three years after I tried, I just fought with him.

Like, if I ever bring him on All-Star, he'd just be looking at it like, I know there's somewhere this all is cool. And listen, I'm going to be honest. At first, I was like, you know, boss is crazy. But now, years later, I realize and I respect his integrity. I respect his morals.

And I respect his stance. He is a brother that's been in hip hop longer than all of us probably. But guess what? If he wants to take that stance of he's in the middle of he's a genie I Have to respect him. He's a motherfucking genie On the floor his shit, he just floating in the air. He's just in there like this. He's a genie. And I respect him, he's my brother, I'm sorry. So the first record I ever put through the street team, like when I came with the 140,

was Legion Center School, just in case of the PTA. It's just another case of PTA. Hey! Who the fuck? I'm not saying that n nigga's my age now. Everybody looking at me like, that nigga ain't nobody sick of him, they're like, what the fuck?

Yeah, that's still one of my favorite records. You know you impressed me. Yeah, that record was amazing. Mm. That record and Brand New being Slow Down. Slow Down. Yeah. Slow Down was on the Tunesy?

No, that was on Elektra, but those were the first two records that I promoted through the Efficient Street Team. Do you think there's anything that you guys were doing in the Street Team era, like the physical Street Team era, that couldn't be applied today? I think you need both today. I really do. I mean, to me, it's like when I go into a market, I'm going to a Walmart store and just hearing what people are talking

at 12, 1 o'clock in the morning. And that was my thing. Listen, my father had one of the most successful labels in the world. We didn't grow up on the street, right? So I always had to figure out what that advantage was for me. So when I put the street team together and we started making some noise now, my wife and kids lived in LA,

but I would still spend one weekend out of the month here. So I would start off at King Plaza Mall and go to one of the stores there and just hang out and hear what the kids were saying. Right? King Posit Brooklyn? Yeah. Then I ended up, a few hours later, at Dr. J's on 34th Street.

And just hang out there. One of my best friends owns a training camp. Remember the old sneaker store on 45th Street? Those are good workers. That's great workers right there. You see that? So, you know, and I would end up working at training camp, like behind the counter, just

hearing what they're saying. And then I would end up at a place called DJ's in Washington Heights on 155th and Broadway. Jesus. And that would be my Saturday. I ain't going to lie. You sound like a cocaine dealer. Your description was so straight but i so i always came back to just like i always i'm a little competitive so i had a up one you know to my street like hey

you know about this you know and they're looking at me like how the fuck is he knowing all this shit like but it'd be that one saturday a month where i would start off in brooklyn and end up in westington heights now how far was it? Because Dead Prez, right? I'm going to be honest. When you listen to Dead Prez lyrics, right, it's probably the most anti-white lyrics there can probably be. How do you remove yourself from that? I'm a fan of Dead Prez.

So am I. That's hard. I didn't imagine that. That's family, by the way. Florida. That's hard. Didn't imagine that. But what I'm saying. That's family, by the way. Florida. That's family. And that's my people.

What I'm saying is, like, how could you, like, because I always imagine, like, you know, when I hear Public Enemy and I realize that people that's pushing Public Enemy was Leo Combs and things like that. But I had to learn that later. And what I'm saying is, like, when you hear Dead Prez, they're just the most pro-blackest people ever, and you guys signed them. I signed them.

It's quality music. The records speak for themselves. Yeah, the records were amazing. And you know what? At the end of the day, they're performing, right? But I could look at myself in the mirror that I know I did right by them right

and whatever their beliefs are their beliefs are do I wish there was more of a trust right that I wasn't the antichrist right if there was a real trust

the way me and Mob had right the way me and Woo had right the way me and Joel and Fun had oh they might have been the biggest group I had

oh oh but prior to you even signing them, their ideologies and their beliefs towards a certain group of people were that. It wasn't like they signed and then became that. They were that from the get-go. Lord Jamal.

Right. He's a man. He brought them to me. Right. And you knew Lord Jamal, yeah. Yeah. So, I mean that's that's that's that's there that's there that's there that's also how do

that so like even like then you work with public enemy I did yeah that's my first project when I walked in the door and shout out to Bill Adler to be worked public and he was at odds at some of the messages so like like so how is that just like that like help me like, like, so how is that? Just like that. Like, like, help me, like, describe, like, you know. Because I imagine, like, people, you know, you guys are saying, the people that they're saying is not me. But they're still saying, like, you know. Yeah, it was a little tricky for me because I came in as the young lawyer and they were making a movie soundtrack with Spike Lee, who's also pretty controversial. Do the right thing?

No, it was He Got Game. And we did the soundtrack. So I had to get in and figure out all the deals. So I had to do a phone call with Chuck and Spike. You know, Spike's a legend, Chuck's a legend. And you don't know them? I don't know them at all. And you're the lawyer.

I'm the lawyer. And you could have been whatever. You were just fucked to begin all. And you're the lawyer. I'm the lawyer. And you could have been whatever. You could have just fucked the beginning. Yeah, yeah. It was already on the phone. I was done. It went right into... I didn't realize the question.

It went right into sharecroppers in the field of copyright. You're stealing our stuff. And, you know, tell that Leor... Like, it just went left right away. But, you know know I tried to be you know conciliatory my job

was just to get the deals done what producers directors got to come out so I just

kind of took it I wasn't going to get into the conversation of because I

didn't even understand it at that point it took a while to kind of understand the

subcultures and a lot of the you know kind of things that Deb Pres would talk about or the 5%ers that Wu-Tang would talk about. Like that stuff was. And their job is to push that envelope and push that

art form to the fringes and that's, it is what it is. You know? Right. I remember Deb Pres came in with some t-shirts one day. I was like, can I have one? He said yeah, give me 10 bucks. I don't know if I respect that or. They didn't back down. Right. So I did respect. Right. And I gave him the 10 bucks. It wasn't I wasn't where I paid for the shirt. It wasn't like, hey, I paid for it, you know. And I always looked

at it as like, I'm not that. But there wasn't like a situation. No, we never had it. They were always polite, you know. They're great people. Yeah, you know, it's fine. I ran out to stick. Out here, right?

On the plane. Yeah, from Atlanta to here, actually. Right? And we spoke, you know, for two hours. I mean, it was amazing. You know, M1, you know, called, you know, to get this thing done. You know, it's like,

I really want to be here. Well, that's dope. I respect that. I respect that. You know what I mean? Like, I respect, I respect, let me make a noise.

Whatever happened, you're not going to know this, but me and my boy, Eddie, he's here. We worked the Lyle Street team. We were the Miami guys. See, I told you. I thought it was him. I thought we had this girl, Jessie.

Listen, listen. No, you had Yara. Yara. Yara. When he was in the back. And then we took over after that. Okay, shut up. Listen, I told you.

He's going to remember. Listen. But I've always been wondering what happened to Buddha. Buddha's Gabi's brother, right? So Buddha's a... Yeah, Buddha and Gabi. Yeah, that's when we worked. That's when we were the street team guys. Bullshit. They're heavy in the whole reggaeton and just... That's right. Buddha's all reggaeton.

And Gabi's a beast. Gabi's looking like he half of a man. Yeah. He lost 150 pounds. I respect you, Gab you and I'm happy for you God be like I'm not see like he got the super smile on this shit he like that I mean he just got a huge check yeah oh yeah I forget the kid that he just signed just did a deal or something got Got some new hot kid. Some crazy, I mean, Interscope. Dope. Well deserved. I don't know if it's...

Nah, I feel like it's hip-hop. Because Gabby was like your guy. Yeah, so Gabby, so... There was Buddha, Gabby, Eddie was over there too, right? Eddie, Puerto Rican Rob, everybody. Woo! Steve out here. Right, right.

So, when I did the whole Southpaw Right So Buddha was the head Of the street team Yep He brings his Gabi's what 17 years old at the time

Yeah man Right so I'm in the back He brings Gabi He brings Gabi right So I have 75 grand in cash For no reason or Just

God forbid You know Let's make some 70 grand Alright So in those days we're going on the road for six weeks i don't bring any clothes every city we go into i just find a nike town or just whatever and just go so okay i'm in the back of the bus

and I hear somebody just, I don't know who Gabby is, but I'm peeing in my pants. That's how hard I'm laughing. Whoever the fuck he's, you know, cracking up. So I said,

you know what? You're staying with me and you hold on to this bag and don't go in this bag. Just hold it with your life. So you know like these tour buses they can't park in front of the bus.

Right. So we have to like the 15th day I have 20 Nike bags now from just going to the foot lockers of the world you know

wherever the fuck we are because I would buy clothes for the day. So he would have to bring it. I said, I'm going to fuck with him. I'd take $1,000 out of the bag. And I'm like, where's this money?

Like, we're missing $1,000. Meanwhile, he's like choking himself because he has like 20 bags around this fucking mess. So he really starts to have a panic attack.

Got me. And then I realized, you know what? This guy's a fucking soldier and he's with me for life. So, cut to we come back from doing this tour. Somebody breaks into our stockroom.

Do you remember the old Stardew Loud jackets? That we had. I've never had one, but go ahead, continue. They break in, and they steal $100,000 worth of jackets. I didn't know young niggas was making $100,000 worth neither.

Right? So the videotape, it's Gabi's cousin. Right. Wow. And Buddha's cousin. Dominican. So,

now they're Puerto Rican. What? Why did I say that? So, they both are going to quit. I'm like, you're not going to quit. And I'm fucking around. I'm like, you're just going to bring me back a finger. So, cut to two days later. I'm like, you're not going to quit. And I'm fucking around. I'm like, you're just going to bring me back a finger. Really?

Oh, shit. So cut to two days later. My cell phone rings, and it's Buddha. He goes, I don't have him, but I got his wife tied up. You want me to get her finger? Buddha was a real motherfucker, yo. He is a real motherfucker. I mean, he's still around.

He's a kid. Are we supposed to make noise for this real motherfucker, yo. He isn't. I mean, he's still around. He's a kid. Are we supposed to make noise for this? No, no. I'm like, no. I'm like, no. Get it. That didn't happen, actually. No, there was no finger taken.

But it was like, you talk about two guys that were just so fucking loyal. That whole squad was incredible, man. Those guys were incredible to work with. I remember being honored. I did for like executive of the year. And my dad's with me. And he's like, what does Gabi and Buddha do? Because he fell in love with them.

I said, watch. I'm at the Delano Hotel by the pool. Oh, here? Yeah. And Gabi and Buddha are at the hotel next door. Right? I send, you know, this went the two ways. I was like, get over here 911.

Within 30 seconds you hear 15 cars crashing. Like they just jumped out of the car. They put it in a park and just destroyed the whole valet, right? And you hear it by the pool. I said, my father's like, what the fuck is that? I said, that's God being Buddha. Goddamn.

Making that great motherfucking entrance. Goddamn. So if you had to do it all over again, is there something you wouldn't do? Yeah. What would you wouldn't do? I wouldn't assault a Sony. Damn, Steve, I'm going to be honest.

I need to understand why. With Sony, we were the small fish in the ocean. Compared to? BMG being the big fish in the pond. Right. And if I didn't listen as much as I love Jimmy, if I just thought about the bottom line a little bit. Because Jimmy was offering you what?

Jimmy wasn't right. He was just saying, fuck BMG. Don't worry about the bottom line. They're making so much money off you this way, that way. Market share this. They're bonusing up the ass. And he was paying me a shitload of money. So you wish you would have went with Jimmy?

No, I wish I would have just... Staged. Of course. I would have just staged. He said, let me do what the fuck I wanted to do. If I wanted to change the deal... I'm sorry to cut you off, Steve, but is that... What do you feel on that situation?

No, I think he has a point, but on the flip side, I mean, we did have a great opportunity at Sony with Relativity, and, I mean, we did $100 million in billing in 1999, 2000. In one quarter. Excuse me, tell me. I didn't mean to say what you just said again, I'm sorry. $190? No, no, I'm sorry. 190? No, no.

It was 100 million. It was 120. 120 million? In one billing cycle? In the fourth quarter. 1999? 1999, 2000. Jesus. Best year of my life.

And that's where I owe the war on Def Jam. Because the year before, they put out the two DMX records, I think, and they had that crazy fourth quarter. I also had a record at that time, I did not throw out two. I had a number one album at that time, but I was my own Def Jam, I was on Binnity Records, and yeah, I was a little guy. Continue. You were never a little guy.

So I took Lior's blueprint, I was like, you know what, continue. You were never a little guy. So I took Glee was blue. I was like, you know what? Let's stack up the fourth quarter. So we had a Woo record, a Prodigy record, a 3-6 Mafia record, an Exhibit record. H&IC Prodigy record? Yeah. I was on that. A Flex record, a Project Pat record, an M.O.P. record, and a Dead Press record. I was on the Project Pat record as well.

Yeah, loud as the fuck. I mean, let to make some noise. I used to fuck with everybody. And Chris was up there at that time. No, Chris, you know, Chris was my man from the beginning. I'm not gonna lie, let me just tell you this. I don't know if you remember this. When it came time for my solo album,

the thing was loud or it was definitely like we kept going I can't go and the thing was Chris was like man you know what I just I want this be mob deeps building but I could have like like Chris told me the kid Kevin real he was just like yo I mean if it's a queen's guy let it be a Ma Deep Villain. That's the reason why I went to that plan. This is real shit. This is real shit. Steve was my man, always.

Like, I don't give a fuck. You coming over here with me. You know what I'm saying? But it was Chris. But that's why I wanted all you guys to share the story. But, like, uh... So, so, so, so... you guys always work okay I'm sorry no I just

I remember I remember you man so when we had we were still at BMG and our office in LA was in the BMG building

and I think that's where it was and Steven had some sort of episode with somebody and you came in at the right time

to calm them down. Oh, yes. Oh, that's right. Me and Exhibit were going at it. Yes. Holy shit. Tell us this story, man. No, that's a fact.

I walked in the seats to me, and I don't know what Exhibit was on, but I walked in and I was like... I was wrong. I told Exhibit to go fuck himself or something. I mean, I was... I mean, but That was our relationship And then he came

Like you're not gonna Say it on the phone Say it to my face And he came in And we got in Each other's face And I happened to be Coming to see you

And I think And the exhibit And he was And I said No I could not allow it But because me And the exhibit

Is great Great friends And I'm And when Exhibits Oldest son and my oldest son are born the same day. Wow. God bless them. God bless them. He's performing too. No, that's beautiful, man. That's beautiful. I'm trying to tell y'all. This would be y'all, like, Leroy Jetson. When I say Leroy Jetson,

you remember how the Jetsons would travel? They would be in the same place. They'd go to a different place. I don't know if you realize that in the Jetsons. I don't know where you're going with this. Yeah, they're traveling. But they're keeping the same thing. That's exactly what that tour could be.

The tour could be the traveling label. I like the Drink Champs loud tour. I love the drink champs. It sounds strong. It sounds strong. It sounds like 300 million dollars. Can we make an announcement now? Let's make an announcement.

We're going to do it. Listen, we're going to set it all. What day is the actual? January 30th. 30th. Next Thursday. January 30th. Okay, I Next Thursday. January 30th. Okay, I think

there's some way we can make some way, something make it work. We could do it. You are too. So we could do it in that green room where we talk

with all the artists as they're going in and out of the show. No, but what we would do, we would provide even more than that. We're a great street team people

and services. What we would do is that's behind the scenes, but we would also host would provide even more than that we're great we're great street team people and services what we would do is that's behind the scenes but we would also host because you know you gotta have somebody talking in between

Dad Prez and motherfucking Mom Pete and then you know EFN is being motherfucking dig and then I'm coming out as host

but then every night behind the scenes is a Drink Champs episode that is a lot of money I'm not gonna lie like a post a post-show to the show. I'm not going to lie. But that's really what this industry is about. It's like us as people that have been...

I said it earlier. A fraternity. That's what I finally get in the field like. Like, you know, the other day, Boosie wore a Kappa Kappa Kappa shirt. And the fucking college people lost their mind. Kappa what? Sorry, sir. You're taking that serious.

Exactly what I'm saying. They lost their mind. Okay, I'm sorry, sir. I appreciate your motherfucking intelligence. What I'm trying to say is that's what I feel like hip-hop should be. I feel like if you got 10 years in this game of hip-hop, we should have

a flag shirt. Because this is for lack of a better term, what do these people say? Culture vultures and shit like that. I feel like if you got 10 years, 15 years in this game. You should have.

We should have a pin. You should have a pin. Like generals. Like the Marines. I'm 40 in. You got decorations. They call decorations. This is what I'm trying to say.

I'm 40 years in. 40 years in. And you have never been called a culture vulture. Ever. Or have you? I don't know. No, I don't think you have been. No, I don't think you have never been called a culture vulture ever or have you i'm not gonna i don't know no i don't think you have been no i don't think you have but i have but i don't think you have but you're quite honest man what do you think that is steve if you had it what do you think that

what does that mean what that i haven't been called one no what does it mean to be i don't even know what it means. It's taking advantage of somebody? I mean, that's... What are you doing? What did you do that warranted them calling you that? I don't know. You'd have to ask Mr. Dash that. I don't know.

He's the one they're referring to me as. Oh, no. But I think the idea behind the name is that you're profiting off of hip-hop culture and not giving back. That you don't respect the culture, that you don't participate. You're just trying to exploit it and get money, and that's where your concern ends. But that's a real concern. I think it's totally a legitimate concern. There's a history of plenty of people exploiting other people based on color, based on their job,

based on male or female. There's a lot of exploitation. I just don't think it's just restricted to music and hip-hop. No, there's culture, vulture, and all kinds of cultures. All kinds. Whatever culture you're in. Yeah. But I think, man, you know what?

We have been doing this in hip-hop, and hip-hop has been succeeding, and I think that we all together as a people know who is the people. Is that vodka? This is agua de ente. Yeah. I feel like, Steve,

I did not offer you a drink this whole time. I can't drink. I've got to consider a heart. For real, because you really had a heart. Yeah, I had a real heart attack. He of the heart. For real, because you really had like a heart. Yeah, I had a real heart attack. He has a heart? No. He's like the scarecrow?

That was the, that was the, that was the, I'm off. You know what I mean? Like you really had like conditions. Oh, is it the lion? Is it the lion or the scarecrow? I don't know. Because I remember there was like a Steve, and then this is the after. This is the after Steve.

The after Steve. No, you know what I'm trying to say. Like, you know. The before Steve was nuts. The wild Steve. Right. He's very crazy. I like him.

But this is the calm down. The post protect your heart, Steve. Yeah. I mean, I got a defibrillator right here. That's definitely going to calm me down. Yeah, sure. I have no idea what you just said. A refibrilla-layer?

I didn't say it. What is that? A refib-a-layer. So you know when your heart stops? It just... No, I don't know. It's like the electric joints, right? Boom.

Oh, that shit. You have one built in? Yeah. No way. Holy shit. And I'm smoking like this? No, we're good. Moving back?

No. No, I mean, I just can't smoke, but I could get hot. You can take edibles? Have you? I have. You have? No. No, I mean, I just can't smoke, but I could get hot. You can take edibles? Have you? I have. You have? Yeah. I bet the equipment at Beverly Hills is phenomenal, by the way.

God, God, God. Please give him a little Wayne shit. Give him a little Wayne shit. Why you not discoloring me? That's my shit. I ain't know what that is. Let him try a little Wayne stuff. Don't try a little Wayne shit.

Come on. A little Wayne shit. Yeah, I mean. I'm not going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to my shit. I ain't know what that is. Let's try a little Wayne's.

Come on, let's try a little Wayne's. Say it again. I don't think anyone's known how to say it. Sister known as poor co-experiment. I'm only listening to her. Bamboo. She's like bamboo. She's like bamboo but not really.

It's my island sister. You know what I'm saying? It's good, it's good. I rise to this esposa, and I listen to her. That's it. All of you other guys, I don't trust you at all. You've been giving me false information. Anybody want a shot? Tell me why.

We're years. Take a shot, Gabe. Grab something and take a shot. All right, brother, take a shot. Motherfucking, hey, hey. You want to take a shot? No, no, take a shot. Take a motherfucking shot. You got to take a shot, Dave, grab something and take a shot. Alright, brother, let's take a shot. Motherfuckin'- Hey, hey, hey, you wanna take a shot? I-I-I- No, no, take a shot. Take a motherfuckin' shot. You gotta take a shot.

You've tried- tried- nah, nah, you gotta check on your wife, man. Fuck this shit. You're mixing a lot about- Nah, man. You ain't gonna get the signature, man. You ain't gonna get the signature, man. Stop talking about the signature. Stop talking about the signature! Listen, I'm not gonna lie-

Edit that out. Give Steve a shot. Give Steve a- give Steve a shot. Listen, Steve. This going to lie. Edit that out. Give Steve his shot. Give Steve his shot. Listen, Steve, this is about Steve Rifkin. So we're going to keep with Steve Rifkin. I'm not going to lie. You're one of the best CEOs out there. You're a person that stick by your artists no matter what.

It doesn't even matter if you agree with their ideologies or not. You stand there. That's the definition of hip-hop. That's the definition of what hip-hop is supposed to be. Sometimes it's like, you know what? Like right now, when I listen to the young generation, I don't agree with none of

their shit, but I still bop to it. I ain't drinking my own liquor, but I be thinking it to it. I ain't drinking any liquor, but I be thinking it. So that's the definition of hip-hop. I'm talking about a fucking up.

But to me, also, the definition, right, is it's not about the wind sometimes. It's about how many times you get up. So to me, that's what hip-hop is.

Okay, so let's just salute to that. Salute, everybody. Okay. Now, this is one point. Shoot it down quickly. Come on. Firewater. I got to use the back one.

Yeah. Take a big piece of bread, man. I got... Me go first? Both of us, yeah. Not at the same time. I got to say this one thing. Now, after all this shit, right? Well, you didn't even take it down, bro.

No, hold up, man. Hold up, man. No, no, no, no, man. You came down to hang out with us. Yeah. Now, this Wu-Tang R album. What did you... What's the dude's name? Scorrelli?

No, let's not even talk about that. Listen, I'm never going to second guess RZA. Right. I'm not. What? That was his... I understand why he was... It was a dope idea.

I thought the idea was amazing. It's a piece of art. it was a dope idea honestly I thought the idea was amazing it's a piece of art it is a dope idea it just got exploited in the wrong way by all of them

well it got in the wrong hands yeah right so that's that's all but I would never second guess him at all

it's like when the Emmy teacher the man's records started coming I stayed in New York for the summer he would come up

to the office every single day with a notebook. And it had 27 lines. He would have 27 questions, right? And I would say yes to 26 out of

27. And he would say to me, why are you saying yes? Are you scared of me? I'm like, why would I be scared of you? Everything that you're asking for is making sense. Right. And the one thing that I might have to say no to

is because maybe I just don't have the money. But that even makes sense. Right. So it has nothing to do about fear. Was there ever

any of these artists or any of these records that were presented to you that you thought I don't want to touch this no i never like when mob deep came you know how now like if someone brings a a piece of content or a project that had previously had a deal and wasn't necessarily commercially successful they might be like nah i don't want to touch that. Like, what made you see that Mobb Deep

could be Mobb Deep? What they were going to be? The day they came into that office, Pete wasn't there, it was Hav and just the rest of the Mobb Deep crew.

They had this energy that just, I mean, it was like how Wu performed, they just had this energy. So it didn't matter what they had done before?

No. That to you was irrelevant? That album was a brick. Right, right. What album? What album? Ma Deep. I'm asking like hit it from the back album.

Oh, hit it from the back album. Yeah. So when they came in, they just took over the whole room. And it was like, I got to have these guys. I remember they went into the men's room to smoke a blunt. And the fire alarm and the water just came down. I was like, this is the perfect spin-off. Of Wu-Tang.

As a matter of fact, they kicked it, BMG kicked this out, where it was like, you guys got to have your own office now. So Wu-Tang, in between Wu-Tang, did Nas come out before or after Wu-Tang? Before. No, around the same time, actually. Google it. Nas, he had the record with Search and Wild Pitch.

Well, yeah, Back to the Grill again. Back to the Grill again. That was before. And then he might have had a single before us. Because I remember when Nas called RZA, they were ecstatic that RZA was going to do two or three beats on the album. But they're all 93 releases, both of them were 93, like official album releases. I think Nas came 94.

Oh yeah, Nas came 94. Singles, singles, yeah. Wu-Tang came November 9th. Huh? Wu-Tang what? Wu-Tang came November 9th, 93. The week he came out was Tribe and R. Kelly. And then Snoop came. That's different today.

Yeah. And then Snoop came out to 16. But Snoop was out in 92, though. Snoop came with the... His second album? No, his first solo. Doug's first... Dougie's dad was in 92?

93. No, November 16th. Late 93. Can we check that? See if my memory is correct. It's definitely late 93. Can we check the date though? I'm almost positive it was November 16th.

Yeah, it's definitely late 93. I know that for a fact. I love this right here. This is the shit I love. But you know what makes it confusing? It was November 16th. Yes, definitely late 93. I know that for a fact But you know what makes it confusing cuz back then people were promoting albums Yeah Yeah, like a year like now nobody could conceive that that someone would have singles to lead up to an album We with this surprise album yeah how about you how about you jonathan jonathan i wanted to see as i said it's all you got this surprise album like nowadays there's no promotion at all there's no need for a street team there's no need

for nothing they just like they're just surprised if you have these people they just drop a surprise out do you agree with that's only if they have the following that that makes sense. They have the following. But some of these people think they have the following and they're very, they're going to learn. Drake has the following. Drake has the following.

Beyonce. Any megastar could do that, but nobody. Eminem did it last week. Eminem did it last week. Word of mouth now, I mean, it's like light switch speed.

Word travels so fast now. It's impressive. I mean, like I was saying, we would generally release three 12-inches at least before we would drop an album. With puns. Before, still not a player.

Three videos. Right. Yeah, the original version, too. So we had You Ain't a Killer. Right. That's the white label. The joint. Yeah.

The joint would be real. Wait. We had You Ain't a Killer. The original. You're not a player. You're not a player with the OJs. Right. We had You Ain't A Killer. The original. You're Not A Player. You're Not A Player with the OJs. Right. The original without the OJs.

And then we came with Still Not A Player. Then we came six weeks later with Twins. Right? Which was a deep cover record. Right. And then we came with your record. Then we came and came up. Right?

So we had five singles within a matter of. You think, you think, you think, damn, that's,... Damn, that was fucking awesome, by the way. The way you just broke that down, I don't know if everybody listened to that. That shit was L. So we did four videos. So we did... Four videos but it was a five-song layout. Yeah.

You think anybody could do that nowadays? The only one? Drake. I don't know any new artist that could... You got me on that one. I don't know. Who? that could... You got me on that one. I don't know. Lil Wayne could do it. Kanye could do it.

But not a brand new artist. But when you think it, it gives them the results of that one million in the first week or the million in the first week. I don't know how this whole streaming shit works now. I know the record companies are getting paid a fortune. I know Universal gets like $ getting paid a fortune. Right?

I know Universal gets like $500 million a year from fucking Spotify. Really? I mean, it's something. Right, Randy? Yeah, they split up the subscription fees. And I think the reason it works so good in the surprise albums is because back when we started, your friend would have to buy it. Then you'd have to tape it from you, and the other friend would have to buy it. Then you'd have to tape it from you and the other friend would have to buy it.

Now, once it comes out, everyone has access to it. So it's just a word of mouth thing that can spread like that. I'm working with the Suicide Boys. You don't have to pay anything extra. I'm working with the Suicide Boys now. Okay.

Oh. The money that they are making. This is a huge... What kind of band? For me, it's a punk band, right? They're a rap... It's a hip band, right? They're a rap. It's a hip-hop. Yeah, they're two kids added.

Not New Orleans, the city, but the country of New Orleans. And the way they are streaming right this second is crazy, right? I would deal this up with Universal in six months. It's going to be the biggest bidding war. And I've never had a bidding war in my whole career. It's going to be the biggest bidding war. And I've never had a bidding war in my whole career. It's going to be the biggest bidding war

of the year. I think you can own your masters too if you're lucky. Well, we own our own masters. So do you recommend an artist that has that kind of following

that you're talking about? Could they go independent because streaming allows you to be autonomous? We are independent. We're going through Caroline right this second, which is owned by Universal. Right? So we are.

What's the pros in going to a major label at this point? There's no more pro. Y'all still taking advances? You see? We have this conversation all the time. We're on opposite sides of this. What are you saying?

Y'all still taking advances? You said that? Huh? I don't know what you just said. Hanging out with Mr. Lee for two days. Just fucking you up. Mr. Lee crawled and I don't know what happened after that. If you're a brand new artist, right,

in today's marketplace, right, you got to jumpstart the record yourself before the labels come. So if you run out of money, then you do need the label. Right?

But if you could figure out a way to get that money, keep that money, own your own shit, and do it yourself, you're going to make a fucking fortune.

And if you have a team that knows how to monetize properly what you're doing. Too much game right now. It's just game. But that's my hope. It's not being,

it's like, if I could help you make $10 million, please do that. Right? Yes. And if God would, if I even needed

something from you, I think you would be there for me. And I'm not talking about money. Yeah, I got you. Right? So that's always been me. And I'm not talking about money. Yeah, I got you. Right? So that's always been my thing.

When me and Puff were together at BMG, even though he was at Arista and I was at RSA, I gave him my connect to the chairman's boss. The chairman. That's what he calls himself now. He calls himself the chairman.

Let's make some noise for the chairman. So that's how I've always just, in life. If I could help you, great. One hand washes the other. But I'm not asking for anything in return. I still got to rely on myself and my team to do what we have to do. All right. Now, so we also know you have the Good Music Connect.

Is there Good Music Connects coming out at this show? I don't think so. Is there a DMX out of the rehab, straight to the motherfucking radio? There might be something. There might be something like that. Off the Flex set.

Because if you remember, Randy, on the third album of the Flexa right he had on the third album of the Flex album we had the first single with DMX yep what single was that I forget the name of it

but we shot the video in Toronto Toronto we shot the video in Toronto it was the jet so you remember and then the dog

ran off the runway or something I mean it was something yeah yeah so it's when they gave all the drugs to the white guy And then the dog ran off the runway or something. I mean, it was something. Yeah. Yeah. Sounds about right. That's when they gave all the drugs to the white guy.

Because customs came off the private jet. They gave all the drugs to the white guy. I wasn't ready. Give him one more shot. No, no, no, no. That's what makes Steve dope You know X is crazy Out of his mind Great guy Yeah

But we had Moskowitz And Chris working With us at the Yes They were all on the jet Chris is called We stayed outside X's house

For maybe two hours While the jet just sat there There No one knew If we were going to come Everyone was nervous I don't know I got confused X missed a couple things During his trip Was the jet just sat there. No one knew if we were going to come. Everyone was nervous. I got confused. Was the jet in front of

X's house? No, we put the jet... The way you said it, the jet was in front of his house. What kind of house was this? X was living in White Plains and we had the jet originally coming out of Teterboro. We moved the jet from Teterboro

to White Plains to just make it as easy as fucking possible. He still ain't make it. I think he was living in Mount Kisco, though, at the time, actually. He made it. We got there. Late, hours, hours late.

Overages, crazy, but we made it. It happened. And I remember Leo calling me. He goes, he is my biggest artist, and I'm Leo and I remember Leo call me he goes He is my biggest artist and I'm gonna do everything possible not to make this happen You know that whole shit caused a whole lot of problems Chris Boskowitz what you just for performance? No, for the Flexes. He became the single Flexes. The single Flexes album.

So just him recording the record was a problem? Doing the video. Oh, the video. No, the recording of the video, everything. He did 12 million records in what, six months? Right. So he's Def Jam's biggest artist. Right.

Chris, we used Def Jam to become our partner, pretty much, right? And then Todd left. And then Todd left. I'm in Italy. You've got to stop. I keep saying people with first names. The last name is very important. We need our listeners to go to shit.

Todd Moskowitz. So Todd Moskowitz left Devin. He was working on the Flax Project. With Chris. He was leaving Def Jam. We didn't even have a deal yet. But I guess Leo found out and he kicked him out of the building. Am I correct? Something he found out, yes.

I'm in Italy. Dealing with the new owner of Red Distribution. Okay. Which we still own 30% of. To this day. No, this is, we had to sign off on the deal, and I wasn't signing off. I was a knucklehead in those days. I wasn't, right?

And Lior, I don't know how the fuck he reached me, but he found me in Lake Cuomo, Italy. And he says, I'm going to do everything. No, this is all extremely obvious to me. Right? I'm going to do everything possible. It's a big pop music to me. Right? I'm going to do everything possible. When does Al Pacino come into the picture? I'm going to do everything possible to block this.

Just DMX being on a single. Yeah. Holy shit, guys. But I don't think it was about me. I think it was more About Chris and Moskowitz Leaving Lior Right

And he wanted to Fuck with y'all What? Chris came first And then Moskowitz Came like 6 months later Yeah I can see Where Lior's coming from

You guys were And with that I would have done The same thing Yeah you guys Was a threat Yeah And then you had

Their number one album On your first single. Yeah. Number one artist. You was ruthless, bro. You was ruthless. Let's make some noise for you, who you are. Who you are, bro.

Who you are, cause you still out here. I mean, I'm just me. I mean. And so, oh shit. Fuck you, all right. I got my notes. My notes, my notes. I fucking, all right. I got my notes. My notes. My notes.

I thought the link was down there. No, I thought the blunt fell in. No, no, no. I got notes. I got notes. So, now 2020. So you're on Kanye. But you're on the Dawgs. It's great.

We hope to see from him soon. Is that what the 2020's focus is? So, when I left Kanye. Okay. Oh, you left Kanye. Wasn't that one of Kanye's things recently? Did you make that happen? No, that's all. I'll tell you

how the whole thing went down. So, no, it was neutral with me and Ye. And I got a phone call from the head of CAA's music department. C-I-A? C-A-A. Creative Audition. I'm so sorry. I said that totally wrong. And I said it very confidently. C-I-A? I'm so sorry. I said that totally wrong. And I said it very confidently. I said, I see how it is. I'm not so sorry. So they said, what are you going to do now?

And I was like, I don't know. I'm going to, you know. He just paid me literally for two years, and he was paying me a lot of money. So I said, I'm going to figure it out, but I don't know if I want to work with anybody again. I want my own thing. He goes, there's this management company that manages a whole bunch of dance artists.

Steve Aoki, a whole bunch of DJs. They just got a shitload of money from a private equity company out of London, and they're looking to go into the urban space. Do you want to take a meeting with them? So I was like alright cool take the meeting and we work out a deal where it's called lab management

and um I had nobody um and then X performed at Sunday service wow and that night that Sunday night And then X performed at Ye's Sunday Service. Wow. And that night, that Sunday night after,

I had a dream that I was going to make his new comeback album. A dream? A dream. So I called Rich Isaacson. I was like, who's managing X? And he said a guy by the name of Pat Gala. Divine Bricks. Right. I was like who's managing X and he said a guy by the name of Pat Gallo right so I tried calling Pat didn't call me back

you know this so Ali got me with Pat flew to New York sat down with X worked it out sat down with the Rough Riders

who I love worked with X. Worked it out. Sat down with the Rough Riders, who I love. Worked what they needed. And now, in the next month or two, we're going to make a new album. Okay. And he's,

because I'm really not impressed. Is he out of rehab? He's out. Okay. Okay. Big him up, brother. Big him up, brother. Because, you know, I realized, like, yesterday was we interviewed Lil Wayne, and I realized how much of a box that he put himself in.

And I realized how much of a box I put myself in. But I don't ever want to be in a super box So the fact that I didn't even know DMX is out makes me know that I got to get back on my shit I got it. I should have knew that. That shouldn't have been a question. Let's do another shot. Let's do another shot. Yo, the lemon pepper. I got lemon pepper? Yeah. You Let's go. Yo, I got a little bit of pepper. You're gonna take a shot of lemon pepper? Yeah, I know that too, man. Let's take a shot. Yeah!

The Loud Motherfuckin' Records. Brandi, I got Johnny here. Our motherfuckin' Rifkin and motherfuckin' Steve Rivkin. Steve Rivkin, this is your interviews. We're going to do something that we implicated new.

It's called Quick Time with Slime. Are you ready? Yeah. Sing it, Slime. Holy moly, guacamole folks, you know what time it is.

He knows what time it is. She knows what time it is. And I think we know what time it is. It knows what time it is. And I think we know what time it is. It is quick time with Slime. America's favorite game show.

Let's go. Holy moly guacamole. We're just going to give you one. You just got to pick one real quick. You just can't not do it. All right? You just got to pick one. Pick one what? Pick one. I'm gonna give you two choices.

Alright. You ready? Yeah. Briefs or Boxers? That's... I didn't see this coming. M.O.P. or Three Seas Mafia? Any of them is my favorite record of all time. It's a great record.

Wooten vs. The Lips. Damn, that's unfair. I mean, they're twins, right? I can't let you get over that. Let's see who has the big one, real quick. Wooten was my first child. Let's see who has a big point. Real quick. Oh, they won't go. Wu-Tang was my first child. Okay.

Boom. So Mobb Deep, M.O.P. Mobb Deep. Boom. Big point, exhibit. Boom. I can't answer that. Uh, Vegas, Miami.

Vegas. Hey. Sure you want to take that back? At this time, it's time to clock. Yeah, wait a second. But, you know, that's where I had the key. Okay. You had the key.

All right, cool. Boom. All right. White woman or black woman? You know that answer. I need you to answer it, though. Black woman. Goddamn it.

Okay. Chris committed suicide or Chris did not commit suicide? Chris did not. Chris did not commit suicide? Chris did not. My fucking phone keeps dropping out of my hand. Okay, hold on. Hold on. Let's do that. Nah, it's Jay-Z.

I'm not answering that. Good. Great. I respect that. Tupac, baby. I'm not answering that either, but Tupac was my roommate, though. Roots? Let's stop. Let's stop and start. Tupac Biggie. I'm not answering that either, but Tupac was my roommate though. Roommate? What?

It stopped and it started. You had the best roommates ever. Is this after Rakim was dead? I did this take for a minute you went to Pop What happened? His first album Jimmy hired us Don't get he wasn't on Yeah Interscope originally He was through a guy by the name of

Adrian Gregory Interscope Adrian Gregory managed Digital Underground Right They signed Pop To Interscope So we would do these

Promotion talks Thursday To Monday Come back to Interscope. So we would do these promotion tours Thursday to Monday. Come back sometime Monday and then we'd have to go back out on Thursday. Tuesday and Wednesday

he's staying at my place for a year. This is in L.A.? This is in L.A., Studio City. Wow. Like a lot of Busta Rhymes told me

similar to the same story. Okay, we're gonna keep playing quick, slide, but fly. You're gonna stay fly, fly, fly? Flip lands. You ready? That was a great story, by the way. All right, you ready?

Leftover Tupac and Biggie? Yeah. I feel like you disagree with me. I feel like you don't know what I'm talking about. No, I do. Yeah, it was. Yeah'm talking about. You ready? Alright, cool. Paul.

Lil' Kim Foxy Brown. Kim. Kevin Hart or Chris Rock? Wow. I'm going with Chris. I was going to go alcohol or lean? I don't drink

me either quality control music or TDE? man so to me it's two different types of it's like

it's like it's like bad boy and loud that's fucking phenomenal you gotta pick one man

I'm going with I'm going with top top top okay cash money or death row cash money okay here's the quintessential right now I'm going with Top. TDE. Okay, Cash Money or Death Row? Cash Money. Okay, here's the quintessential right now.

Eminem, MGK, or G-Eazy? Eminem. And that is called the QuickTime Wasabi. Yeah! That was all. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I love our shit. I'm just being honest. So now, we got us all together. What's going on? Do I got a shagging wing?

You got a shagging wing over there. A shagaker wing? You got a shaker wing over there. A shaker wing. A shaker wing? I got a shaker wing, baby. He's shaking that wing. So, yo, so, um... Now, this is the first loud experience. What is it called? Loud experience.

Man, you named it. Ah! The loud experience Times dreams, champs Experience Experience I got one more shot left in me Before I wrap it up

I'm about to wrap it up Do you realize I'm about to wrap it up? We'll do the shot The shot, exit, speech Yeah, shot, exit, speech Wrap it up Shot, exit, speech

Yeah That's safer It's safe Yeah, shot, exit, speech, wrap it up. Shot, exit, speech. Yeah. That's safer. It's safe. So we ask every rapper that comes here, and we ask every guest that comes here, what is your favorite era in hip-hop? Give us a 10-year span, or give us your fucking era that you won't try. It doesn't matter.

I mean, I'm going to say my loud era. Okay, now, his loud era. Yeah, Finn. Can you assume his loud era? Is that a 10-year? For what year to what year? 92 to 2002. That's definitely.

Yeah, I think you won that one. Yeah, I think. All right. Okay. All right. Okay, all right Okay, great 92 to 2002 what we say the best era that's our yeah 92 to 2002 I agree. Well, hold on actually no no wait I gotta say 88 to 98 I gotta say man probably also biased

Okay, you know I think the time. I'm probably also biased. Okay. I think the time when I went, 97 to 2007, that era that was really driven by Rockefeller rough riders, to me that was my favorite era. I had another run from 2002 to 2010, which might even be bigger than that.

This is when Banner got it. This is Akon and Banner. Yeah. And Asher Raw. Yeah. You know, Akon's born in the city. Asher Raw, yeah. This nigga's born in the city.

He's doing different. He's born in the city with electricity and everything. Nah, nah. You guys have been killing it. Big up to David Banner. He's a big friend of the show. Akon as well. There you go.

He might be giving us a Big up to David Banner. He's a big friend of the show. He might be giving us a surprise visit. David Banner. That's me. Thank you. Let's take some motherfucking shots. That's on the C-Loud motherfucking records. Steve motherfucking Ripken. John L. Ripken. Motherfucking Randy Atkin.

We all here. I am going to take this down. I just want you to know, man, you know, in our game, every time people get 10 years or more, they want to kick us out of this game. And the thing is,

the more you get seasoned with wine, the more better it tastes. Well, that's what I'm saying. The more you get knocked down, the better you get up. Nobody thought I was going to do that, right? SRC might not have been as cool as live, but it was just as big, if not bigger. Right. So before we get up out of here everything's going how did the health

like how did the health like just fuck up yeah like what was going on I never went to a doctor ever you're like

really black like that's like I didn't go to a doctor for 30 years wow okay damn fuck that wow that's really black continue so if I went to a doctor

he would tell me my blood pressure was fucked up my cholesterol was fucked up getting the boss a lot of stress weight that I shouldn't have gained throwing chairs out the window that was before so just that I shouldn't have gained. Throwing chairs out the window. That was before.

So, just... I mean, I died three times. Wow. Wait, you say you died three times? Yeah. To a table? I mean, where was it? During the table? Emergency room.

In the emergency room. Yeah. You need to say shackled three times. Emergency room. In the emergency room. Yeah. But at this stage... You've been shocked on three times. Shocked? Shocked or shocked? Shocked. Shocked.

Heartbreak. Shocked. Wow. Do you remember that? So it was Christmas Eve. Six years ago this past Christmas Eve, I was playing. My oldest son was still in high school, he was a basketball player he dunked on me and he was hanging from the rim

and his nuts was in my face so I punched him in the face not out of anger, I was joking around this is the most disrespectful thing a son could ever do to his father so my ex-wife is from Trinidad so she sees what's going on and her accent, she starts yelling at me So my ex-wife is from Trinidad.

So she sees what's going on. And her accent, she starts yelling at me, calling me an animal, this, that. But we're laughing. Next thing you know, I can't breathe. Right? And I don't have chest pains, but I have a pain in my back. So I said, maybe I pulled a muscle from swinging. I mean, I had no idea what it was.

I said, something's the matter. She goes, just take a shower and go to sleep. It's Christmas Eve. Right. In Trinidad. No, we were in Boca. Close enough, though. It was hard. I feel this in Trinidad.

I go, I'm staying in her guest house. Boca's very beautiful, too, as well. I'm staying in her guest house. I call 911, take his annex, and take a shower. They came and said, we got to take you in. They took me in. I remember them cutting my shirt, telling me I am having a heart attack. And they said, the doctor, actually, the doctor who was in the emergency room was my father's doctor.

He goes, are you related to Julie Rifkin? I'm like, yeah. He goes, actually, the doctor who was in the emergency room was my father's doctor. Oh, shit. He goes, are you related to Julie Rifkin? I'm like, yeah. He goes, I'm his doctor. So I felt some type of. Because he lived down here? Who, my dad? Yeah.

Yeah. Because the doctor was your doctor. Yeah, the doctor was my dad's doctor. So I felt a little relief. And next thing you know, the thing that they put in your throat to keep you breathing yeah I ripped it out and I'll get another good look knowing that it's kind of weird like you're talking about me but if I fucked up my larynx. And I was in the hospital for a week. And ever since then, you know, God blessed me, you know, to just...

God bless. Amen. Shalee, can we say a prayer? Can we say a prayer? Wait, hold on, hold on. Before that. In Spanish or in English? No, that's the Jay-Z story.

Yeah, man. You guys were better than me. No, that's the Jay-Z story. Yeah, man. You guys were leaving well. No, no. Before that, we have to get a Jay-Z story because I feel like this is like twice that you tried, like...

So, what exactly happened? So, I go back with Dame since he's 16 years old. Dame. Right. Yeah. Right. So, Dame is managing

Original Flavor with his cousin Damien right and I had a relationship and I was doing the promotion

for Original Flavor were they signed to a label they were signed to a label oh ok so

Craig Calvert Craig Calvert wasn't there that long. Craig was there. Wow. Since then? Yeah. But he wasn't the boss yet, right?

He wasn't the boss yet, but Craig was there. If Craig was there since... Craig was my connector. Craig was the one that was putting me on all these records. Yeah, listen. If Craig was there since Original Flavor, I'm going to be out. Craig signed Bad Boys. Bad Boys, Bad Boys.

The soundtrack? What you going to do? No. Original Inner Circle song In 1992 I'll be honest, there should be nobody in that building Bigger than Craig, Craig should be the biggest dude In the building

That was 1990 Something I'll tell you exactly So Julian and Mike Kaiser That day was a teenager I'll tell you exactly what it was I'm asking you, is Julian and Mike Kaiser bigger That day was a teenager So I'll tell you exactly what it was I'm asking you Is Julian and Mike Kizer

Bigger than Craig or no? No Julie No Kizer's head of Urban Julian of Urban CEO And Craig is his CEO

Alright there you go Craig You deserve that Craig Alright I'm sorry continue The day that Christian Laettner Hit the shot against Kentucky Christian Laettner What year was that? 92?

92 Thank you Dream Transport That's when That's when I met Damon hit the shot against Kentucky. Christian Layton. What year was that, 92? 92. Thank you, Dream Transport. That's when, that's when I met Damon's cousin, Darian. Darian.

Darian Dutch. So, cut to, Darian here, Denver, selling a lot of weed. Cut, and his sister,

Stacey Dutch. Baby, that up too. Right? So, cut to, 94, 95, you you know whatever it was dame jay come to the office or maybe just dame and he plays me jay's out can i live i want to do the i want to do right but i have to get permission s Right? But I have to get permission.

SRC? No. I have to get permission from BMG to sign it. Was Clive Davis in the room? No, there was

Strauss Zelnick and Kevin Zinger. So, and, I forget who the president was at the time. Joe Galante, I think,

at RCA. And, it was the time, right around the time that I threw the chair, so it was like, BMG never let me sign Jay. Or Rockefeller. So that's the real story. I mean, I would never pass on something like that. Because I remember Big Face Gary.

I don't know I don't know Gary Big Face Gary His assumption was He came to you guys And you didn't sign him We didn't But I wanted Listen to me I had the best A&R guys in the business They brought it to me

I was never going to say no If Matty and Scott Free brought something, right? I signed Pun on the spot without hearing a record because Matty showed up at the office. Did it say Matty from the source?

Yeah. From one side, huh? Yeah. So that's how I signed Pun. Matty was in the office. I thought Riggs brought him to you. No.

I found Pun was I was in Chicago with Quincy on the private plane. As you all do. You all do every other day. A guy by the name of Mickey Benson calls me. Mickey Benson. That's my guy. R-Rap.

Mickey calls me with Fat Joe on the phone. I said, Joe, I'm in Chicago. I'll be in New York on Monday. Let's meet Tuesday. From Thursday to Tuesday, I must have get eight to ten calls that I shouldn't sign Joe because he's a gangster, he's an extortionist, he's this, he's that. Joe comes to the office. I said, before we start the meeting, let me talk to you for a second. I said, I got ten calls that I shouldn't sign him or pun. Everybody says, you're a gangster, you're an extortionist.

And I said, you know what? But I'm a gangster and I love gangsters. I said, so we're going to figure something out. I'll tell you something. That's gangster. Gangster's the most. Let me tell you something, Steve. That's why I love you.

Joe is probably one of the closest people to me in life. He told me the same story word for word verbatim. There's no way he could have made his side of the story up and you could have made the side of the story up. And it could be word for word verbatim the way it is. I just want you to let you know.

Thank you. Because it believes me. But for real, like that's crazy. What can I tell you? So, so say, I forget,

so say we meet, I meet Joe on Tuesday. What? I'm going back to L.A. on could change? So, so say, I forget, so say we meet, I meet Joe on Tuesday. What? I'm going back to L.A. on Thursday. I said, can you come back tomorrow and bring punt?

And the meeting's early because I got to catch a flight back to L.A. So the meeting's, say, around 11 o'clock. Right. And Maddie,

who I shared an office with, is in the office. I'm like, what the fuck are you doing here? Right. Now, I got a six-figure royalty check waiting for him that he hasn't picked up in six weeks. I'm like, what the fuck are you doing here? Now, I got a six-figure royalty check

waiting for him that he hasn't picked up in six weeks. Matty. What? Wow. He goes, aren't you meeting Pun?

What? I'm like, you came for this? What? The second they walk into the meeting, Joe and Pun, I said,

you got a deal, who's your lawyer? Everybody's like, are you bullshitting me? I'm like, I'm not bullshitting you. And Matty goes, well, what are you going to do? I said, your job is to make the record, and you're here because you want to hear this.

And that's how the deal was done. Their lawyer was Tim Anlabam. I called Tim. Tim Anlabam. Big old Tim Anlabam. He was my lawyer at the time, too. And the deal was done within a week. What the fuck are you doing?

And... What? What? And you thought did you think like cause alright Joe at the time um I'm not even sure Joe was kind of gold at the time

it wasn't even gold at the time but he was funny as hell he made me laugh there was one night I guess Chris was managing him for a minute too, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So there was one day me and Chris were on our way to play bowling and he had to stop at the studio. You and Chris was on the way to what?

Play basketball. Okay, all right. And Joe was outside the studio. I don't know Joe at the time. But he cracked the joke. The window was open. I mean, I was just laughing. So like I said, I can only judge you for how you treat me.

You know? And that's how I'm going to treat you. So, I mean, and that's how. People literally called you and said, don't forget that. Yeah. I mean, I don't know who Mickey Benton told. He's told this story on Dream Camp so many times. It's so great to hear.

So, I feel like saying the same story. Because he's told this story on Dream Camp so many times. It's so great to hear. He's told this story. We had a meeting. Jeremy Zimmer, the guy from UTA. Okay. That's the guy, right? That's the guy I introduced you to. That's the guy.

Joe told him the story the other day. I'm like, yeah, it's true. Goddamn. Make some noise for Steve. told them the story the other day. And I'm like, yeah, it's true. Right. God damn, make some noise for Steve fucking for a second. And then,

you know, we took Joe to Vegas with us. That's because I've been hearing this, you have the keys to a private room

in a strip club in Vegas. I mean, I don't know if it's a private room in a strip club in Vegas I mean I don't know if it's a private this is back in the days I mean it was the crazy horse too

crazy horse I knew that I didn't know if you wanted to admit it our uncle your uncle owned it what kind of uncle

is this that sounds like some old school Schultz shit like mafia shit back in the day. I ain't gonna lie, your father on the record label, your uncle owns the car. What's going on here? We're good, we're here. No worries.

Alright cool. Alright cool, this is the mafia dog. I respect it. Put that back though. I was saying that. Put that back though. Put that back. Put that back. Put that back. We at House of Max just in case people don't know, man.

And we doing it, man. Yo, Steve, man, thank you for taking time out. But let's also, let's pick up this motherfucking car seat that's going down. When is it going down and what date is it January 30th New York City Radio City Music Hall January 30th motherfucking New York City the loud experience the loud experience the loudest Radio City Music Hall how many hip-hop shows were there not many tomorrow I'm going to shop for my jacket because it sounds very cold.

Because I don't do the cold no more in New York City. I try not to. I checked the weather. They said it's going to be 45 degrees.

That's cold to me, sir. What was the first hip-hop show at Radio City Music Cup? What? What was the first hip-hop show at Radio City Music Cup?

I'll say the MTV Awards. What was the first I think it was the Roots in 2005 Randy coming with Trillio

right now Beastie Boys opening up for Madonna the like a virgin album I don't know

if I'd call that all the way a hip hop show Beastie Boys participated to have hip hop

but I do You're right with that Boy did they get booed They got booed? Yeah because it was Matata's crowd Like they You know

Oh they got booed Like Drake at Tyler The Korean at What? Tyler the Crocodile What? Yeah you know

Like Drake got booed Oh Drake at Tyler's festival Yeah Yeah this is You said Tyler the Cro exactly what I said. No, you said Tyler the Crocodile. I said Tyler the Kareem.

You said Tyler the Crocodile, man. Yeah, definitely. Whatever, whatever. If that makes you feel better. But yeah, yeah. So you're saying Beastie Boys dealt. All right, Drake. So this is the Drake.

Beastie Boys opened up for Madonna. But what tour was it? It was like the Like a Virgin tour. Like a virgin. like a bird so They were just like getting hot and they yeah But Drake been hot he's not supposed to be he's not supposed to be boo. He was not you see this Yeah, I know front his fans is terrible let's just be clear I don't want people to know but Tyler responded he was the way he like he came back at his fan yeah him to

fuck him no I thought it was the he Steve Steve John down we were not that is it the It's just that. It's like, wait a minute, wait a minute. Nah. That part, the fucking, nah, but when I tried signing up. Thailand? Or Odd Future. Odd Future. Which is fucking ill. Right? The whole crew's ill.

Nah, I just beat them up. They drew a swastika. What? They did what? Yeah, and I guess they were trying to get a reaction out of me, and it was just like. A real swastika or the Chinese swastika? No, they drew a real swastika.

Where, where did you swastika? In the conference room Meeting that I was having enough money. Oh wow Okay, okay, so I was just like as a little too much. Yeah, that's funny. I feel really Yeah But let's let's let what day is this concert again? It's January 30th.

Next Thursday, Radio City Music Hall. When this comes out, this Thursday. Yes, this Thursday. This coming Thursday? Yeah.

When this comes out, it's this Thursday. No, because it'll be like Monday or something like that. This Thursday, January 30th. Yes, and we're going to get us

up there, because Steve got the prior play. Wait, let's keep me in there. we're going to get us up there, because Steve got the prior play. Just keep me in there. We're going to have Quincy on the play. Just real quick, drink chance, we're going to host this. Get the fuck up out of here. Quincy's orchestrating the band. Woo!

Woo! Nah, I'm fucking around with Steve. Steve, man, Jonathan, man, Randy Acker, man. Thank y'all for hanging with us. Randy Acker's a part of us, but, Jonathan, man, Randy Acker, man. Thank you all for hanging out with us. Randy Acker is a part of us. But you guys, we really appreciate what you guys did for the business. You're a stardom for your artists. And we respect that.

And thank you guys, man. You know what I mean? Thank you. One million percent. I'm going to take a picture, and then it drops. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Drink Champs,

hosted by yours truly, DJ EFN and NORE. Please make sure to follow us on all our socials. That's at Drink Champs across all platforms, at TheRealNoriega on IG, at Noriega on Twitter. Mine is at Who's Crazy on IG at djefn on twitter and most importantly stay up to date with the latest releases news and merch by going to drinkchamps.com a lot of times big economic forces show up in our lives in small ways. Four days a week, I would buy two cups of banana pudding.

But the price has gone up, so now I only buy one. Small but important ways. From tech billionaires to the bond market to, yeah, banana pudding. If it's happening in business, our new podcast is on it. I'm Max Chastain. And I'm Stacey Vanek-Smith. So listen to Everybody's Business on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves. This medal is for the men who went down that day. On Medal of Honor, Stories of Courage, you'll hear about these heroes and what their stories tell us about the nature of bravery. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Why is a soap opera Western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday,

May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart Podcast.